Facial Hair of the Weekend

Once again, Civil War facial hair, this time with Union general and American hero Ulysses S. Grant.

Remaking Our Money After Latin America

From top to bottom--James Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Chester Alan Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, John Hay, James Blaine.


In most Latin American nations I have traveled through, on the money are obscure late 19th century politicians with fantastic Gilded Age facial hair, 90% of whom I don't even think the nation's population knows who they are. I think the U.S. should do this as well. Enough with the Washington and Franklin's of the world!

The $1 should have John Hay on it. The classic Republican insider, from Lincoln to Roosevelt, Hay always sported excellent facial hair. No one knows who he is today. He's important to historians of the time period, but no one else. Perfect!

A clearly excellent candidate for the $5 is James Blaine. Senator from Maine and Republican candidate for president in 1884 and the greatest political narcissist of his time, Blaine is my choice for this important bill. Also, the beard!

The $10 seems perfect for James Garfield? Why? Because you know nothing about him except that he was killed in office and that he has a great beard!

The $20 goes to Chester A. Arthur. I mean, when you signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883, shouldn't you get some kind of honor? I think not. But when you have lambchops of that quality, indeed it is appropriate!

The $50. Right now it's Ulysses S. Grant. Let's see--good general, disastrous president whose administration was rife with corruption--wait a minute, I think Grant WAS a late 19th century Latin American leader! We're sticking with US Grant!

And finally who gets the $100. We're still talkin' bout the Benjamin's, but this time it's Benjamin Harrison!

Historical Image of the Day

Chief Justice Morrison Waite and his fine beard.

Appointed by Ulysses Grant in 1874, Waite served for 14 years. Like many of Grant's Supreme Court nominees, he worked to roll back racial protections for African-Americans. This makes me wonder why Grant's supposed belief in racial equality has improved his standing among both historians and progressives. Almost all of his judicial choices were terrible on race and you'd think that in an age when we pay so much attention to judges generally and the Supreme Court especially, people would take this into account. Those who promote Grant's presidency point to the Civil Rights Act of 1875 which he signed. But his own judges, including Waite, overturned the law in the Civil Rights Cases (1883). So I have yet to see a compelling case for the argument that Grant was a good president on racial issues.

Happy V-C Day!!!

I know it's late on this glorious day, but I'd like to wish everyone a happy V-C Day. 142 years ago today, the traitorous Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, to end the Civil War.

This is one of the greatest days of the year and one of the most important events in American history and should be a national holiday.

Historical Image of the Day

Thomas Nast image of Robert E. Lee surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.