“In February 1866, he testified before Congress to oppose suffrage for former slaves: “My own opinion is that, at this time, they… — Ron Chernow Testified Congress Copy Share Image
“Johnson had unleashed the political equivalent of an act of war against Congress. Retaliating against the president’s violation of the Tenure of… — Ron Chernow Crimes and misdemeanors Copy Share Image
“While Grant was celebrated as a victorious wartime general and the president who had peacefully settled the Alabama claims, most gratifying to… — Ron Chernow Grant Celebrated Copy Share Image
A prudent silence will frequently be taken for wisdom and a sentence or two cautiously thrown in will sometimes gain the palm… — Ron Chernow Burrs Copy Share Image
“The chief quartermaster on the West Coast, Robert Allen, an old friend of Grant’s, learned he was holed up in a cheap… — Ron Chernow Friendship Copy Share Image
I find that when I come upon something that I think is a historical revelation, I have the sort of adrenaline rush… — Ron Chernow Adrenaline Copy Share Image
“In discussing this Romanian bloodletting with Simon Wolf, Grant declared that “respect for human rights” was the “first duty” of any head… — Ron Chernow Head of state Copy Share Image
In many ways, the North won the Civil War militarily and then lost the peace. You know, a group of writers, included… — Ron Chernow Civil war Copy Share Image
“On March 15, Washington addressed the officers, determined to squash a reported scheme to march on Congress. For the first time, he… — Ron Chernow First time Copy Share Image
“Right before his inauguration, he received a Quaker delegation and asked them to nominate Indian agents from their members. “If you can… — Ron Chernow Quaker Delegation Copy Share Image
“And shall we at last become the victims of our own abominable lust of gain? Forbid it, Heaven." Washington himself could be… — Ron Chernow Greed Copy Share Image
“Not simply wanting compensation for destroyed American vessels, he added a still more explosive demand: that Britain pay a staggering $2 billion… — Ron Chernow Merchant marine Copy Share Image
“Grant refused to accept that. In a newspaper interview, he placed blame for the disaster squarely on Custer’s shoulders: I regard Custer’s… — Ron Chernow Custer Copy Share Image
“In early June, Grant traveled to St. Louis, where he had gained possession of White Haven and an additional 280 acres from… — Ron Chernow West point Copy Share Image
“Like her youngest son, Julia administered stern lectures on republican virtue. Before supper, two noblewomen stopped by to school her in palace… — Ron Chernow Youngest son Copy Share Image
“With snow-white hair and a massive forehead, Bismarck, in military uniform, welcomed Grant with both hands extended. Turning on the charm, he… — Ron Chernow Military life Copy Share Image
“On September 3, an especially hostile audience baited Johnson in Cleveland, where his behavior flirted with new lows. When a heckler yelled… — Ron Chernow Habits Copy Share Image
“He generally spoke with much animation and energy, and with considerable gesture. His mind was filled with all the learning and precedence… — Ron Chernow Communication Copy Share Image
“He would smile at times, but I never heard him laugh aloud,” said Louisa Boggs. “He was a sad man . . . he seemed… — Ron Chernow Despair Copy Share Image
“Few First Ladies—and the name wasn’t yet commonly used—have so reveled in the White House or developed such a proprietary feeling about… — Ron Chernow First ladies Copy Share Image
“Grant later boasted, with some justice, that Hamilton Fish was the best secretary of state in fifty years. While historians have tended… — Ron Chernow Justice Copy Share Image
“When he bet Julia that she wouldn’t dare to descend into the mine, located seventeen hundred feet below, it roused her fighting… — Ron Chernow Fighting spirit Copy Share Image
“When the couple rode by the shore one day, John became so enraged at Fidelia that he drove their carriage straight into… — Ron Chernow Chesapeake bay Copy Share Image
“In mid-May, he dictated a message for a reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic that had a touching, patriarchal tone:… — Ron Chernow Tell Boys Copy Share Image
“He saw too clearly that greater freedom could lead to greater disorder and, by a dangerous dialectic, back to a loss of… — Ron Chernow Freedom Copy Share Image
“Clearly, the U.S. government condoned something that, in modern phraseology, could be termed industrial espionage. Building upon this precedent, Hamilton put the… — Ron Chernow Espionage Copy Share Image
“FROM THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR, Abraham Lincoln recognized the pivotal role of Kentucky, a centrally located buffer state between North and… — Ron Chernow Abraham lincoln Copy Share Image
“Around this time, Mark Twain belonged to a small, irregular Confederate company and later claimed for comic effect that he had been… — Ron Chernow General grant Copy Share Image
“Grant’s postwar fame didn’t spare him the bane of his father-in-law’s glaring presence. After he and Julia settled into their Georgetown home,… — Ron Chernow Southern Rights Copy Share Image
“A group of Wall Street admirers created for Grant a $250,000 Presidential Retiring Fund, which would not only yield $15,000 in annual… — Ron Chernow Fund Copy Share Image
“Rawlins let loose a stemwinder of a speech that lasted forty-five minutes. His voice throbbing with emotion, he thundered, “I have been… — Ron Chernow Communication Copy Share Image
“With a soil and climate scarcely equaled in the world,” he protested, Mexico “has more poor and starving subjects who are willing… — Ron Chernow Rich poor Copy Share Image
The richly cadenced prose is hypnotic, the research prodigious, the analysis acute, the mood spellbinding, and the cast of characters mythic in… — Ron Chernow Achievement Copy Share Image
“The extraordinary outpouring of bipartisan concern blotted out the scandals of Grant’s presidency and restored him to his rightful niche in the… — Ron Chernow Scandals Copy Share Image
“Willing to take heat on the issue, Grant showed courage and fairness in endorsing merciful treatment for Lee. “Although it would meet… — Ron Chernow Courage Copy Share Image
“Shiloh, but it sorely disappointed the Century editors. Written in Grant’s pithy style, it was arid and compact and read like a… — Ron Chernow Every night Copy Share Image
