I am writing to take issue with a statement made by letter writer Paul R. Shriver. The statement was, "There have been other presidents that we are ashamed of, Grant, Nixon and Clinton, to name a few."
I would suggest that Mr. Shriver read Ron Chernow's excellent biography, "Grant."
Grant, as president, had his faults. One of his faults was trusting people who couldn't be trusted. His two terms were marked by some scandals, but his character was impeccable. His honesty was never questioned and many people who knew him said he was honest and loyal to a fault.
He fought for better treatment for Native Americans when others called for their extinction.
His advocacy for African-Americans was so strong that Frederick Douglass called him, "the vigilant, firm, impartial and wise protector of my race."
Grant struggled with alcohol his whole life, but it never affected his performance during the war or when he sat in the White House.
There was a time in our history when the three greatest Americans were thought to be Washington, Lincoln and Grant. Pretty good company to be in. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Chris Mirra
Milford
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