Grant Administrations - Grant and Congress

Grant and Congress

Grant presided over the Forty-first through the Forty-fourth sessions of Congress during his two terms. Throughout this period Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate, the one exception being the Democrat-controlled House of 1875–76. Despite this Republican dominance, Grant often had difficulty working with Congress. Many Republican leaders in Congress were angered by Grant's failure to consult them on major appointments and policy. Further, while the many corruption scandals of Grant's term also touched Congress, they tainted the administration far more. That appearance of weakness encouraged Congress to resist presidential initiatives.

Another issue that colored Grant's relationship with Congress was Grant's own perception of the presidency. Having been raised in the Jacksonian era of President Andrew Jackson (1829–37), with its minimal government with most decisions being made by...

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