Political Trivia for August 2

[Ron Burgundy]

CQPolitics.com - CQPolitics.com on Wednesday published a roundup of developments in the 2008 campaigns, including the emergence of a Democratic challenger to Republican Rep. Don Manzullo in Illinois’ 16th District. The district is the site of the longtime home (though not the birthplace) of the late President Ulysses S. Grant. In what city is Grant’s home located?

a. Galena
d. Freeport

Answer: c. Grant lived in Galena in northwestern Illinois during the 1860s.

The Ohio native was in a lowly state when he first arrived in Galena to work in his family’s leather shop just before the Civil War, as the former Army officer during the Mexican War had struggled through failed careers and economic difficulties. But he organized a company of Illinois volunteers after the outbreak of war, rose quickly through the ranks and ultimately became commander of the victorious Union forces.

He returned to Galena a hero after the war ended in 1865, leaving for good — except for occasional visits — when he was elected to the first of two terms as president in 1868. Grant died in New York in 1885; his tomb on the west side of Manhattan is a landmark.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070802/pl_cq_politics/politicaltriviaforaugust2 [link]