Ulysses S. Grant — An Archetype of American Leadership

Why this unassuming and simple man presents the archetype of American leadership and the model for what a President should be.

One of America’s most underrated and underappreciated Presidents, Ulysses S. Grant was a leader who was both incredibly ordinary and absolutely extraordinary. Interestingly, as described in Ron Chernow’s biography, “Grant”, his middle name did not begin with “S” — it was a typo that stuck with him for life. In his early life, he lacked an acumen for business and almost every endeavor he tried until destiny brought him to the epicenter of the Civil War. A graduate of West Point and a veteran of the Mexican-American War, Grant had the qualifications to make an impact as a Union officer, but he was often overshadowed by generals who fought in the eastern theater, mainly George Meade and George McClellan.

While he did not receive the early recognition bestowed on the Army of the Potomac, Grant performed valiantly in the west, capturing strategic forts and cities that crippled the Confederacy, including Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, and Shiloh. His army almost single-handedly gained control of the Mississippi River, effectively dividing the Confederacy in two. He gave hope to Lincoln and the Union when they needed it the most…