Sold – U.S. Grant Donates a Sizable Philanthropic Christmas Gift For the “Benefit of the Poor and the Schools For Poor Children”

Both during the Civil War, when he presided over the taking of many casualties, and during his presidency, which coincided with the corruption-laden Gilded Age and the great Depression of 1873, some accused of him having a hard heart. People who knew Grant insisted that these accusations were untrue, that he was neither corrupt nor uncaring. He never made a personal fortune, and in fact was often much in need of funds, so there is no long record of philanthropy. This letter shows his giving spirit, making a large cash donation at Christmas time for the needy.

In 1869, Rev. John Philip Newman was appointed to Washington as Pastor of the Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church, which he helped organize. In December of that year, he also became the Chaplain of the United States Senate, serving until 1874.  While in Washington, Grant became close with Pastor Newman, and his family attended his church.

Autograph Letter Signed as President, December 24, 1869, to Pastor Newman. “Enclosed please find a check for $150 which I send to you for the benefit of the poor, and the schools for poor children in Washington and Georgetown. Please donate $100 for the former purpose and the remainder of the latter. With great respect, your obedient servant, US Grant.” This would have been a large sum of money in 1869. This letter provides us with a unique glimpse into the life and character of Grant. It appears to be unpublished and is not contained in The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant. It is also a rare letter showing the philanthropy of a sitting president; today, donations of US Presidents are discussed at great length and analyzed closely.

Grant and Newman developed a life long friendship. Newman would later rush back from a visit to California in 1885 to administer the last rites at Grant’s death bed, explaining, “A great sufferer… is going in peace… I want him to go in peace.”