Henry Adams on President Grant
...g that the reader gets from Adams through this chapter is that he is judgemental of people. Though it is within our rights as American citizens to openly criticize the President, Adams takes it to a personal level, seeing as he has met this man. After meeting with the eighteenth President of the United States, and one of our country's most beloved war heroes to this day, Henry Adams had the gaul to call him a "most curious object of study" as if he were some kind of amusing spectacle. This coming from a man that even claims to have no opinion on the matter. "Adams had no opinion, or occasion to make one" (Adams, pg. 223). As Adams moves on to describe and categorize President Grant, he continues to use a condescending tone. He mocks the education of both Presidents Grant and Washington categorizing them as mere "cave dwellers" as far as formal education went. He even goes as far as to accuse Grant of stealing ideas. "Rawlins (Army Chief of Staff) and the others would systematically talk their ideas into it (Grants mind), for weeks, not directly, but by discussion among themselves, in his presence. In the end, he would announce the idea as his own, without seeming conscious of the discussion... They were not sure that he did think" (Adams, pg. 222). This is a pretty serious allegation and one without proof other than word of mouth. Later on in the chapter, Adams reveals some jealousy toward Grant that may explain the attacks on the President. It is a continuing theme with Adams that he feels that he is living in the wrong cent...