<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> An examination of Ulysses S. Grant's two terms as President of the United States (1869--1877) reveals many scandals and fraudulent activities associated with persons within his administration, including his cabinet, that was in continual transition, divided by the forces of political corruption and reform . Grant, ever trusting of associates, was himself influenced by both forces . The standards in many of his appointments were low, and charges of corruption were widespread . Starting with the Black Friday (1869) gold speculation ring, corruption would be discovered in seven federal departments, including the Navy, Justice, War, Treasury, Interior, State, and the Post Office . Reform movements initiated in both the Democratic Party and the Liberal Republicans, a faction that split from Republican Party to oppose political patronage and corruption in the Grant administration . Nepotism was prevalent, with over 40 family members benefiting from government appointments and employment . The prevalent corruption was eventually called "Grantism ." </P> <P> The unprecedented way that Grant ran his cabinet, in a military style rather than civilian, contributed to the scandals . For example, in 1869, Grant's private secretary Orville E. Babcock, rather than a State Department official, was sent to negotiate a treaty annexation with Santo Domingo . Grant never even consulted with cabinet members on the treaty annexation; in effect, the annexation proposal was already decided . A perplexed Secretary of Interior Jacob D. Cox reflected the cabinet's disappointment over not being consulted: "But Mr. President, has it been settled, then, that we want to Annex Santo Domingo?" Another instance of Grant's military - style command arose over the McGarrahan Claims, a legal dispute over mining patents in California, when Grant overrode the official opinion of Attorney General Ebenezer R. Hoar . Both Cox and Hoar, who were reformers, eventually resigned from the cabinet in 1870 . </P>

Which president was noted for the dishonesty and corruption of his administration