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Crook, William H. Through Five Administrations. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1910

William H. Crook

Crook served as an executive clerk at the White House during Grant's presidency, and had been one of President Lincoln's bodygaurds.

Obviously I came into close contact with General Grant and his family at the White House. I wish to say here that, in the four years in which I saw him every day except Sunday, I do not remember one occasion when the President was out of temper or when he failed to listen sympathetically to all requests. I think no man ever separated his business life from his social life more completely than Grant. He seemed an entirely different man when friends were around him. That does not mean that he was talkative or that he laughed very often, but he was genial and full of content. And then again, no man kept his home apart from both business and formal social things.

Mrs. Grant was a warm-hearted, kindly woman. She was familiar with the White House from the cellar to the garret, and she knew the servants personally. Moreover, she had a great deal of influence on the her husband. Yet no one obeyed her because she haughty or particularly commanding; it was rather because she made persons want to please her. The same thing was true, in different degrees, of course, of the whole family. I have never seen a more devoted family or a happier one. There never seemed to be the slightest jar. To begin with, I don't believe any man and wife were ever more devoted than were the President and Mrs. Grant. I am sure he thought she was absolutely perfect. He couldn't get along without his wife. He wouldn't sit down to the table without her. In the morning he was always up first, and had time to read the morning papers before Mrs. Grant was dressed. But as soon as breakfast was announced, at about half past nine, he would knock at Mrs. Grant's door. Her voice would come from within: "Is that you, Ulys?" "Breakfast is ready." "I will be there in a few minutes, General."

The General would walk to the window of the library and wait, fidgeting, until she joined him. Then she took his arm, and they went down to breakfast together. The children were usually there, but whether they were or not, one of these inseparables never thought thought of eating a meal without the other. The breakfast, as a rule, was plain - broiled Spanish mackerel, steak, bacon and fried apples (a favorite dish), and rolls, flannel cakes or buckwheat cakes, and a cup of strong coffee. When the President signified that he had finished by pushing back his chair, Mrs. Grant would look up and say, "All right Ulys, I will be through in a few minutes. Then, when she had another half cup of coffee, she would take his arm again and they would go upstairs to her room. There they always had a little talk to begin to day with, until he had to leave for his office in the cabinet room.

At two, when lunch was announced, the President went to find Mrs. Grant in the library, where she sat crocheting or reading. Again they went arm in arm to and from the dining room. At dinner the family was all together. They went down together at 7:00. It was a jolly meal, with a great deal of fun and laughter. Daily, when the President was through, he rolled bread up into little balls and aimed them at his two youngest children, Nellie and Jesse. When the missile hit, he went over and kissed the victim on the cheek. He was a most loving father.

 

 

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