Don't Know Much

Who Said It (7/23/13)

Ulysses S. Grant (Library of Congress)

Ulysses S. Grant, 18th President of the U.S. (Source: Library of Congress)

President Ulysses S, Grant, Speech to veterans of the Army of Tennessee (September 30, 1875)

“Resolve that neither the State nor the nation shall support institutions of learning other than those sufficient to afford every child the opportunity of a good common-school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan, or atheistic dogmas. Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the church, and the private school supported entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and state forever separate.” 

(Source: Jean Edward Smith, Grant, p. 570)

At a time when the debate over public support for  sectarian education and religious exercises in public schools was being hotly contested, President Grant waded into the subject. At the time it was largely a Catholic-Protestant dispute, as many American Catholics were trying to battle the overtly Protestant tone of public school education.

Grant’s views were remarkable at the time, as Grant biographer Jean Edward Smith wrote:

The President’s demand for the separation of church and state took the wind from militant Protestants advocating a pro-religion amendment to the Constitution.

(Grant, p. 570)

Ulysses S. Grant died on  July 23, 1885. His New York Times obituary appeared on July 24, 1885. At the time of his death, Grant was one of the most admired men in American and when he was later entombed in New York City, more than one million people lined the streets to view the passing of his body.

You can read more about Grant’s life and Presidency in Don’t Know Much About the American Presidents, Don’t Know Much About History and Don’t Know Much About the Civil War.

Don't Know Much About® the American Presidents1110

The Latest From My Blog

Don’t Know Much About® the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York caught fire and 146 people died.

Read More

The World in Books-Coming in October 2024

My new book is coming from Scribner in October 2024.

Read More