Presidential Biographies | Grant Administrations - Post-presidential Years

Post-presidential Years

While many in his party wanted Grant to run for a third term, he did not want to spend another four years in the White House. He was succeeded in 1877 by fellow Republican, Rutherford B. Hayes. Grant spent the next two years traveling the world with his family, followed by a year visiting the American South, Cuba, and Mexico. In 1880 Republicans again pushed Grant to run for president. Grant made it known that he did not wish to be nominated, but a draft Grant movement emerged anyway at the party's convention. Grant led the initial voting, but after the party deadlocked James A. Garfield was chosen as a compromise candidate.

Money problems occupied most of the rest of Grant's life. Grant had never saved much money for retirement and what money he had he and Julia Grant spent. The Grants's many friends and admirers would often come to their aid. Through the help of his son Ulysses Grant Jr., Grant became...