American Experience - Ulysses S. Grant, Warrior President

This is by far one of the best documentaries of a U.S. President to date. Although Ulysses S. Grant is probably not well known for one of the best Presidents our Country has had, it is certainly one in which most of his victories and failures have come to light for all of us to learn from.Segments and highlights will include the following:~ From childhood to President he loved Horses~ Christmas 1838, at 16 he was appointed to military Academy at Westpoint. His Father Jesse was an influence.~ Sept. 1843 was at Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis~ 1846 US/Mexican War, he was Quartermaster, at Palo Alto, Vera Cruz, Mexico City, Monterrey/Learned from General Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott.~ Julia Dent Correspondence~ 7 Months after Defeating Mexico, they were married. His parents did not attend due to the fact Julia's family had owned a few slaves.~ Ulysses Jr. was born when he was away for 5 months.~ 1854, Grant transferred to Fort Humboldt, Northern Ca.~ He drank whiskey to stave off being lonely.~ April 11, 1854 Capt. Grant resigned his commission amid rumors his drinking whiskey was to blame.~ HIs father was not pleased. At 32, returned home. He built his first home by hand. Later would abandon home as results of poor farming.Moved to St. Louis.~ Could have sold his own slave (by marriage to Julia), for a thousand dollars, but he freed him instead. He asked Father for a loan, but he said no.~ Spring 1860, Galina Illinois, New life at Father's Leather Shop.~ 1860, Abraham Lincoln elected 16th President. Grant helped with Reception.~ April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter fired upon by Confederates at Charleston Bay, SC.~ Slavery issue big in War, one of the reasons for the "States Rights".~ Grant asked to be reinstated into US Army and given a command. He was now known as Colonel Grant in charge of Illinois Union Troops, 21st Infantry.~ July 31, 1861, Appointed Brigadier General by President Abraham Lincoln.~ Feb. 6, 1862, ordered to attack Fort Henry. After 2 hours, Rebels surrendered.~ Feb. 13, 1862, Ft. Donelson attacked. On the 16th, the Rebels surrendered. Up to 15 Thousand surrendered., Grant appointed Major General.~ Feb 16, 1862, correspondence to Julia~ April 6th, 1862, Shiloh Rebel attack. Union losses were heavy. He was relieved of his command.~ In Summer, 1862, Grant restored to command by President Lincoln.~ Jan. 1st, 1863, The "Emancipation Proclamation"~ April 16, 1863, approached Vicksburg, Union Fleet made it through, Grant and his Army of 40,000 relieved.~ July 4, 1863, Vicksburg Union Victory! 30,000 Rebels surrendered.~ Nov., 1863, Chattanooga, TN. Victory!~ Dec. 7th, 1863, National Day of Prayer~ Mar. 8, 1863, arrived in Washington, DC. to be commissioned Lt. General of ALL Union Forces under President Lincoln.~ May, 1864, Battle of Wilderness. Union Losses appeared more than Rebels.~ Jun. 3, 1864, Cold Harbor Virginia, 60,000 Union Troops involved. Heavy casualties, with about 6,000 Union losses.~ Atlanta Falls To Union!~ Nov., 1864, President Lincoln re-elected.~ Mar., 1865, Lincoln arrives at City Point to discuss tactics with Generals~ Apr. 2nd, 1865, Petersburg Falls to Union!~ Apr., 3rd, 1865 Richmond, The Confederacy Capitol, Virginia Falls to Union, is evacuated and burned by the Rebels.~ Apr. 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee, Commander of all Confederate soldiers, surrenders at Appomattox, Virginia.~ Apr. 14, 1865, Met with Lincoln to discuss Reconstruction Policy. Later that day, President and first lady attend play at Ford's Theater and John Wilkes Booth assassinates President Lincoln. President Lincoln is pronounced dead on the 15th of April, 1865.~ Andrew Johnson becomes the 17th President of the US.~ May 23, 1865, Review parade for the US Troops in Washington, DC.~ May 1, 1866, turmoil with fights and killing going after negroes in Memphis, TN., New Orleans, LA.~ 1867, Andrew Johnson VS Republicans in Congress~ Johnson, A Democrat, VETOED the "Civil Rights Act". Congress passed the 14th Amendment, Johnson VETOED it. (It was written for equal protection for the FREED BLACK SLAVES.)~ Feb., 1868, Impeachment proceedings go forward, but Andrew Johnson is survived by 1 vote.~ May 21, 1868, Nomination of Ulysses S. Grant for President.~ May 29, 1868, Accepted Nomination~ Nov. 1868, Grant becomes 18th US President.~ Mar., 1869, in White House~ 1869, Fisk Gold Scheme, "Black Friday" Gold Plummeted~ 1870, more incidents occurring with blacks. Hate groups start to emerge. Grant subdued KKK in South Carolina. Would not emerge until 40 some years later.~ Election of 1872, Grant defeats Greely in Big landslide victory for President. Grant is re-elected.~ Spring 1873, Colfax, Louisiana, Race riots, black deaths numerous.~ Recession takes place.~ May, 21, 1874, White House Wedding. Grant's daughter Nelly is married.~ Jan. 4, 1875, Democrats stormed State Assembly in New Orleans, LA.~ 1876, a scandal including Babcock and others is revealed.~ July 4, 1876, USA is officially 100 years old.~ Dec. 5, 1876, Grant's final message to Congress~ Mar. 1877, The Grant's leave Washington to travel Worldwide.~ Sep. 1879, Home to America.~ Summer, 1880, Galina, Illinois.~ 1884, He and Julia financially secure until Worker's Association stole Investments.~ Fall, 1884, Diagnosed with Cancer of the throat. Grant's Memoirs begin.~ July 18, 1885, finished Memoirs.~ July 23, 1885, Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the United States of America, dies.~ Feb. 27, 1886 Julia Grant given royalties of his memoirs totaling $450,000.00~ 1897, Ulysses S. Grant reinterred overlooking Hudson River.Well done!! I highly recommend this one for every American Citizen and member!

DVD arrived in good condition.

First rate telling of the story of a President and national hero comparatively forgotten in modern America (I know he seemed la minor note in my American history education). The fact is, Grant was more popular than Lincoln in his time, and had a huge effect on America both during and after the war.Grant was a man full of fascinating contradictions. After a series of terrible failures in civilian life he became a huge success as a General, leading the north to victory in the Civil War after things had looked quite bleak (but only after a couple of reversals of fortune of his own along the way). A fierce, almost heartless warrior, he was also a tender and deeply devoted family man, almost to the point of obsession. A shy man, not given to speeches, who led with a quiet strength and self-discipline, and yet was also, by most accounts a functioning (at times barely functioning) alcoholic. The son of an abolitionist, Grant owned slaves himself, and saw slaves as inferior beings, only to be open minded enough to slowly come to embrace their emancipation not only as a military tactic, but as a moral stance. He became a fighter for African-American rights as a General and a President. A physically small man, humble in many ways, who rose to greatness, only to be knocked down (and rise up) repeatedly after the war. A man brilliant enough to be a great leader in war, but naive enough to be taken in by con-men as President.For me, the first part was the more powerful of the two halves, perhaps because it covered fewer years, plus the sheer emotional power of thewar itself; the overwhelming loss of life, and drama of the struggle make it hard for his later life in politics to pack quite the same punch. But I found all of it highly interesting, and unlike some of the always well made American Experience films, I learned a great deal I didn't know, not only about a seminal American figure, but also about the Civil War and Reconstruction as well.

The content of this DVD is to be praised. However, one is always forced to watch the full PBS introductions and all the credits and advertisements of both parts before one is able to manually choose to move through the sections. This is very frustrating and totally unlike any other DVD I have watched. In addition, the printed 15 to 34 numbering sequence shown for Part Two is, in fact, 1 to 20 in the DVD. There is great annoyance until one learns how this DVD may be played. Question: Is this standard for PBS?