Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[Linda Anderson]

Well, I guess the Grants got the final revenge. Many years later when Mary was a widow living completely alone in France the Grants made a triumphal sweep across Europe being feted by Royalty and heads-of-state. They were guests of honor at a banquet almost literally next door to where the lonely, sick woman was staying and they refused to even pay her a courtesy call. I realize that Mary had done nothing during her glory days as First Lady to earn their friendship. But Ulysses and Julia Grant had the world at their feet at that point. Mary, widow of the man Grant would call "incontestably, the greatest man I have ever known," had lost everything.

I think a courtesy call would have been a gracious gesture.

I agree with you, Toia, or they could have at least made the offer and let Mrs. Lincoln decide if she wanted to see them.