Meet Ulysses S. Grant: Written Off at 38

The failure years

At thirty-eight Grant had failed at farming (his farm was named Hardscrabble), failed at bill collecting, and stood clerking in his father's leather store. Four years later he commanded all Union armies. The failures hadn't been the measure of the man; they'd been the wrong war.

Appomattox and after

His orders were famous for clarity under pressure; his terms at Appomattox were famous for grace — Lee's men kept their horses for spring plowing, and rations arrived within hours. Dying of throat cancer and bankrupted by a swindler, he raced death to finish his Memoirs so Julia would be provided for. He won that one too.

Why they belong at your table

Seat him when you've been written off. He was — completely — at an age when most people conclude the verdict is in.