What was Ulysses S. Grants boyhood nickname?
I’m not completely sold on the “Useless” nickname being real or just one of those internet fun facts that are more fun than fact. Here are two of the more believable references I could find: If we don’t believe in ourselves, who will believe in us? Grant’s childhood nickname was “useless,” a play on his middle name, Ulysses. People said he was dumb. However, he was an expert in one area. He could train and ride any horse. Neighboring farmers paid him to break in their horses or to take care of them when they were sick. Ulysses S. Grant on Leadership 2000 Philip Ernest Schoenberg, Ph.D. http://www.presidentialexpert.com/leadership_ulysses_s_grant.html By contrast, Ev Ehrlich gives himself more room to tinker with the facts, to clown around. His “Grant Speaks” pretends to be a first draft of Grant’s memoirs, and it does follow the basic outlines of the historical record. There’s one big gimmick, however. In reality, the general was born Hiram Ulysses Grant and acquired the nickname “Usel
