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Hamilton Fish: The Inner History of the Grant Administration
extremely rare,very good condition
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
Textbook Binding
First published January 1, 1936
About the author
Allan Nevins
420 books25 followersAllan Nevins was an American historian and journalist, renowned for his extensive work on the history of the Civil War and his biographies of such figures as President Grover Cleveland, Hamilton Fish, Henry Ford, and John D. Rockefeller.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Shelved as 'put-aside'
November 28, 2017I hate having to give up on this. This biography won a Pulitzer when it came out in 1936, and Grant's biographer Ron Chernow says Fish was one of the more remarkable and accomplished Secretary of State America has ever fielded.
In light of all these things, we desperately someone who can revive this history and tell it anew, highlighting those things that are important to us now: what makes a great statesman, and how can we allow them to succeed?
In light of all these things, we desperately someone who can revive this history and tell it anew, highlighting those things that are important to us now: what makes a great statesman, and how can we allow them to succeed?
December 13, 2019
Allan Nevins's book about Hamilton Fish won a Pulitzer Prize in 1937. It's subject is still regarded as
the crown jewel of the Cabinet of Ulysses S. Grant, but interpretations of Grant have nudged him a
bit higher in presidential rankings. Still this book is a worthwhile read.
Fish was born in 1808 the son of Revolutionary War hero Nicholas Fish and he was named after Fish's
good friend Alexander Hamilton. The Fishes were part of the cream of New York society and were
good Federalists and then Whigs. Hamilton Fish served as a Representative in Congress for one
term, Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of New York from 18490-1851. After that term Fish
was a one term Senator 1851-1857. He stood against the extension of slavery and voted against the
Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Nevins as author gives these years perfunctory acknowledgement. Fish was not a terribly ambitious
man these offices almost sought him. He had a lot of obligations, his law practice, his various
society charities etc. He was well out of political ambition when he met General Grant who when
putting together a Cabinet offered him the job of Secretary of State. Reluctantly he took it and
did try to resign a few times. He did for the duration of 8 years though.
Grant as we know had some other cronies who were a sleazy lot that Fish had to deal with. Fish
also had to deal with Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with whom he served on the
Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate. Sumner was now Chair of that committee and he
tried to run US foreign policy from same.
Fish was no warmonger and no expansionist. He set precedent with the arbitration of the Alabama
claims concerning monetary damage from Confederate raiders built in British shipyards. He settled
peacefully the Virginius Affair where a filibustering expedition to Cuba was captured and war
seemed imminent. Spain was a big problem, during the entire Grant administration war seemed
just over the horizon because of Cuban rebel activity and some Americans looking to grab territory.
Fish resisted what was not resisted in 1898.
His one expansionist move was when the head of the Dominican Republic offered to sell his country. War was not what Grant or Fish wanted, but who could resist a real estate bargain. The
harbor of Santo Domingo was the prize, a port for our naval vessels. Charles Sumner killed that
purchase treaty in Congress. Part of the feud between Grant and Sumner. You can read about
the feud here and then read David Donald's biography of Sumner for that version.
Grant is given higher ratings now because of civil rights being passed in the 60s and current historians giving emphasis to Grant's championing them against some bad odds in his years in office. Current readers might find Nevins's book dated because of that.
Fish did retire in 1877 and went back to New York society. His health gradually declined and he
dies in 1893. He was fortunate that his stewardship of our foreign policy for 8 years found such
a good admirer and writer.
the crown jewel of the Cabinet of Ulysses S. Grant, but interpretations of Grant have nudged him a
bit higher in presidential rankings. Still this book is a worthwhile read.
Fish was born in 1808 the son of Revolutionary War hero Nicholas Fish and he was named after Fish's
good friend Alexander Hamilton. The Fishes were part of the cream of New York society and were
good Federalists and then Whigs. Hamilton Fish served as a Representative in Congress for one
term, Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of New York from 18490-1851. After that term Fish
was a one term Senator 1851-1857. He stood against the extension of slavery and voted against the
Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Nevins as author gives these years perfunctory acknowledgement. Fish was not a terribly ambitious
man these offices almost sought him. He had a lot of obligations, his law practice, his various
society charities etc. He was well out of political ambition when he met General Grant who when
putting together a Cabinet offered him the job of Secretary of State. Reluctantly he took it and
did try to resign a few times. He did for the duration of 8 years though.
Grant as we know had some other cronies who were a sleazy lot that Fish had to deal with. Fish
also had to deal with Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with whom he served on the
Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate. Sumner was now Chair of that committee and he
tried to run US foreign policy from same.
Fish was no warmonger and no expansionist. He set precedent with the arbitration of the Alabama
claims concerning monetary damage from Confederate raiders built in British shipyards. He settled
peacefully the Virginius Affair where a filibustering expedition to Cuba was captured and war
seemed imminent. Spain was a big problem, during the entire Grant administration war seemed
just over the horizon because of Cuban rebel activity and some Americans looking to grab territory.
Fish resisted what was not resisted in 1898.
His one expansionist move was when the head of the Dominican Republic offered to sell his country. War was not what Grant or Fish wanted, but who could resist a real estate bargain. The
harbor of Santo Domingo was the prize, a port for our naval vessels. Charles Sumner killed that
purchase treaty in Congress. Part of the feud between Grant and Sumner. You can read about
the feud here and then read David Donald's biography of Sumner for that version.
Grant is given higher ratings now because of civil rights being passed in the 60s and current historians giving emphasis to Grant's championing them against some bad odds in his years in office. Current readers might find Nevins's book dated because of that.
Fish did retire in 1877 and went back to New York society. His health gradually declined and he
dies in 1893. He was fortunate that his stewardship of our foreign policy for 8 years found such
a good admirer and writer.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews