Historical revisionism can be tricky, especially when it's being employed on American Presidents. Whether a President leaves office with a lot of popularity or in disgrace, a common trend for most Presidents long after they are done serving their terms seems to soften among historians and the overall populace. George W. Bush, for example, left office with approval ratings below 40 percent, yet just 13 years later, is viewed favorably now by the majority of Americans. 

Surprisingly enough, Ulysses S Grant, a Civil War hero, is one of the few exceptions to this trend, as his popularity after he left office plummeted and stayed low throughout the entire 20th century. In this episode, we unpack why that was the case, especially considering Grant was way ahead of his time on the most polarizing issues of his generation. Building on the Jefferson episode, how should we expect the favorability of certain Presidents to trend going forward as our society continues to socially develop? How is it possible for Grant to be transitioning to a top 20 President 150 years later, and what kinds of qualities will make a President more popular as we move deeper into the 21st century? We tackle these questions and the unique pros and cons for having a noble, but also hands-off personality like Grant as President. 

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