#1NewYorkTimesBestsellerFoxNewsChannel’sChiefPoliticalAnchorilluminatestheheroiclifeofUlyssesS.Grant“ToRescuetheRepublicisnarrativehistoryatitsabsolutefinest.Afast-paced,thrillingandenormouslyimportantbook.“--DouglasBrinkleyAnepichistoryspanningthebattlegroundsoftheCivilWarandtheviolentturmoilofReconstructiontotheforgottenelectoralcrisisthatnearlyfracturedareunitednation,BretBaier’sToRescuetheRepublicdramaticallyrevealsUlyssesS.Grant’sessentialyetunderappreciatedroleinpreservingtheUnitedStatesduringanunprecedentedperiodofdivision.Bornatanner’ssoninruggedOhioin1822andbattle-testedbytheMexicanAmericanWar,GrantmethisdestinyonthebloodyfieldsoftheCivilWar.HisdaringandresolveasageneralgainedtheattentionofPresidentLincoln,thendesperateforboldleadership.LincolnappointedGrantasLieutenantGeneraloftheUnionArmyinMarch1864.Withinayear,Grant’sforceshadseizedRichmondandforcedRobertE.Leetosurrender.Fouryearslater,thereunifiednationfacedanotherleadershipvoidafterLincoln’sassassinationandanunworthysuccessorcompletedhisterm.Again,Grantansweredthecall.AtstakeoncemorewasthefutureoftheUnion,forthoughtheSouthernstateshadbeendefeated,itremainedtobeseeniftheformerConfederacycouldbereintegratedintothecountry--andiftheUnioncouldensuretherightsandwelfareofAfricanAmericansintheSouth.GrantmetthechallengebyboldlyadvancinganagendaofReconstructionandaggressivelycounteringtheKuKluxKlan.InhisfinalweeksintheWhiteHouse,however,Grantfacedacrisisthatthreatenedtoundohislife’swork.Thecontestedpresidentialelectionof1876producednoclearvictoryforeitherRepublicanRutherfordB.HayesorDemocratSamuelTilden,whocarriedmostoftheformerConfederacy.SoonSouthernstatesvowedtorevoltifTildenwasnotdeclaredthevictor.GrantwasdeterminedtousehisinfluencetopreservetheUnion,establishinganelectoralcommissiontopeaceablysettletheissue.Grantbrokeredagrandbargain:theinstallationofRepublicanHayestothepresidency,withconcessionstotheDemocratsthateffectivelyendedReconstruction.Thispainfulcompromisesavedthenation,buttragicallycondemnedtheSouthtoanothercenturyofcivil-rightsoppression.DeepwithcontemporaryresonanceandbrimmingwithfreshdetailthattakesreadersfromthebattlefieldsoftheCivilWartothecorridorsofpowerwheremendecidedthefateofthenationinbackrooms,ToRescuetheRepublicrevealsGrant,forallhiscomplexity,tobeamongthefirstrankofAmericanheroes.
