Thread by @cjcmichel

TIL one of the main reasons Robert E. Lee avoiding being hanged for treason was... Ulysses S. Grant telling Andrew Johnson not to do it.

Grant was “bitterly opposed” to the U.S. annexation of Texas, and viewed the Mexican-American War “as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.”

The American casualty ratio during the Mexican-American War was “slightly higher than Union losses in the Civil War, seven times greater than that of WWII, and twenty-four times that of Vietnam.”

(These passages are from: powells.com/book/-97806848…)

Grant on the Confederates trying to break up the U.S.: “There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots and I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter.”

“In one of the most blatant examples of state-sponsored anti-Semitism in American history, Grant expelled all members of the Jewish faith from the Department of the Tennessee.”

Lincoln was incredibly lenient toward Confederate leadership upon surrender.

For the Confederate military: “Let them go, officers and all.” For the political leadership: “If Jefferson Davis and his colleagues escaped abroad, the president wouldn’t mind.”

More details on how Grant specifically intervened to prevent Robert E. Lee from going to trial to face punishment for treason—despite Andrew Johnson’s wishes:

1866: Grant “feared [Andrew] Johnson might be planning a coup d’état to prevent a Republican victory in November... Grant was sufficiently concerned about Johnson’s plans that he quietly ordered the removal of weapons and ammunition from federal arsenals in the South.”

Grant on Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, which Grant supported: “I would impeach him because he is such an infernal liar.”

Turns out the Dominican Republic was so eager in the late 1860s to become part of the U.S. that their government offered to... just unilaterally declare the country annexed to the U.S.:

During his first term, Grant pushed for the (eventual) creation of an Indian state—but the push fell apart due to demand for federal control, and pushback from railroads/white settlers:

Some of the means with which Grant and his admin crushed the KKK/deterred white rifle clubs: sending in federal troops, announcing proclamations of “insurrection,” issuing thousands of indictments.

With 1876 election results still disputed, *multiple* members of Grant’s cabinet—including the Sec. of War—lobbied for “immediate military intervention in Louisiana to secure a GOP victory.” (Grant declined.)

“Whether the deal concluded [to give the 1876 election to Hayes in return for white autocracy in the South] was necessary is open to doubt.”

Grant on a second potential American Civil War:

“I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon’s, but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition, and ignorance on the other.”

Amazing scene post-presidency, with Grant sitting down with Tsar Alexander II in St. Petersburg to discuss US-Russia relations and US-Plains Indians policy (cc @seansrussiablog)