Summary

Chapter 37 opens with the Whiskey Ring Scandal, a tax evasion scheme among distillers and government officials that reached all the way to Orville Babcock in the White House. Despite overwhelming of his involvement, Grant refused to believe that his trusted secretary was corrupt, even testifying on his behalf during a his trial. Instead, Grant further damaged his own reputation by attacking the reputable Treasury Secretary Benjamin Bristow, who had led the Whiskey Ring investigation. As the 1876 election approached, Grant fielded some calls for him to run for a third term. Despite this, the Republican Party was lukewarm on the idea and Grant himself strongly opposed it. Julia Grant, in contrast was angry with Grant for depriving her of her social status. Simultaneously, violence continued in Mississippi, where white terrorist groups were attempting to intimidate black voters. For the first time, Grant chose not...