Home Page for General Ulysses S. Grant's MemoirsGeneral Ulysses S. Grant’s perspective on the United States' War with Mexico and its political agenda/propaganda was clearly expressed and forceful: “We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it.
“It is better for him, individually to advocate ‘war, pestilence, and famine,’ than to act as obstructionist to a war already begun.” "Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant," Volume I, Ulysses S. Grant, 1885
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Review of Beacon Biographies "Ulysses S. Grant" by Owen WisterOwen Wister gets at Grant’s overall nature and character. The biographer convinced me that Ulysses S. Grant was a good man, but was never meant to live the life of a politician during a time when so many were trying to exploit government for personal gain. He was too good, too naive and too disconnected.
IBM Stumbles in IFI Claims' 2025 Patent LeadershipTo summarize IBM's patent performance briefly in the 21st Century: In 2022, IBM forfeited its three decades of patent leadership to Samsung and shows no indication of recovering its leadership position.
In the last six years patent production has dropped by -1.6%, -4.9%, -49.3%, -16.7%, -32.6% and -11.0%. IBM's yearly patent production is now down an overall -76% under Arvind Krishna's leadership as chief executive officer.
Select the chart above or the link below to read the full story. Forgotten Stories About Thomas J. Watson Sr.The link below is provided as a convenience to browse samples of information available on Thomas J. Watson Sr. There are many, many more informative webpages on this site about IBM's traditional founder.
Enjoy the information. Even after more than a decade, it still feels like we are just getting started. Peter E. Greulich, IBM Retiree, Author and Publisher. 2026
What Is the Difference Between "Knowledge" and "Wisdom?"Thomas Edison, called to the witness stand in a civil case surprised court and attorneys in freely admitting he did not know off-hand how to translate temperature from the Fahrenheit scale to the Centigrade scale.
Mr. Edison was not trying to excuse ignorance. He was simply saying that he knew where to find the knowledge when he wanted it. He was insinuating that there are two types of knowledge. One type of knowledge merely encompasses the accumulation of a mass of detailed facts. The other type is the knowledge that gives one the perspective to evaluate that mass of facts and to use them. One type involves a good memory; the other involves wisdom. Being able to determine between the two should be part of everyone’s education; both types are valuable, but to be able to distinguish between them is to know the difference between where we are going and what we are trying to accomplish.” IBM Business Machines, April 24, 1941
Nothing Is More Fatal to Progress Than Self-Satisfaction
“He cannot afford ever to stop studying his own and other businesses, and he must be a close student of current social and economic trends. Only in this way is he enabled to keep abreast of the times. “When an individual fails, in this changing world, to keep abreast of the times, they are lost.” Thomas J. Watson Sr., IBM Business Machines, May 23, 1940
Advice From Long Ago On Attaining Success This YearThis book update is for all those who are struggling—like myself, with what is happening in our country, with our youth, with our values and ideals, and with our direction as a democracy. It contains a few words of grounding advice from B. C. Forbes, founder of Forbes Magazine. His insights—derived from his interviews with some of America’s greatest 20th Century industrialist leaders, are as relevant today as they were a century ago.
Maybe, this is the time and place to start our society’s transformation. Ask yourselves: "How do we inspire ourselves and others to see our common shortcomings and integrate these 'Keys to Success' in all our lives?" Peter E. Greulich, January 1, 2026
A View From Beneath (Lou Gerstner's) Dancing ElephantIf Lou Gerstner’s Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? is the yang, Peter E. Greulich's A View from Beneath the Dancing Elephant is the yin—that quintessential opposing and balancing force. This book is an IBM employee's perspective of the changes that took place at IBM from 1993 through 2013 placed within the context of IBM's 100+ year history of leadership. It captures the views of those who will determine IBM’s 21st Century permanence: its workers.
There are three distinct IBM generations when it comes to evaluating Louis V. Gerstner.
"A View From Beneath The Dancing Elephant," Peter E. Greulich, 2025
Book Review: Gustavus Myers' "The History of Tammany Hall"“The History of Tammany Hall” by Gustavus Myers was published twice: in 1901 and 1917. Mr. Myers wrote the following in the Foreword of his 1917 version to explain these two publications and the problems with getting them published because of its subject matter: The Corruption of Tammany Hall.
“Hence to all intents and purposes, that first edition was in the nature of a restricted private edition. … It practically took rank as a suppressed book—not, it is true, suppressed by any particular agency, but by the circumstances of the case. … [the author eventually published the 1901 version of the book with the aid of a ‘publication fund’ to which many ‘public spirited citizens’ contributed.] “To the present publishers [of the second edition by Boni & Liveright, Inc. in 1917] the author gives all due appreciation for their unqualified recognition of the need of the publication of this work.” "Forward," Gustavus Myers, 1917
What the State of the Union Address in 2029 Could Look LikeEnvision the "2029 State of the Union Address" and, in particular, those types of personalities and character traits we need in the individuals we put into public office to bring it to pass.
What are those values you may ask? I believe you will recognize them when you see, read and hear them. They will tug at your heartstrings and pull us together as a nation rather than dividing us along colored, red-blue lines. After all it was not just a new political and socio-economic experience that ultimately founded this country of ours; it was also a new system founded on spiritual values.
In the next two elections vote with your deepest of spiritual values based on a singular, spiritual rule: elect those who treat you--and your neighbors, as they would want to be treated. In the United States we most commonly refer to it as the Golden Rule. But it is a foundational belief of so many religions! See for yourself. IBM Acquisitions by CEO: 2001 through 2024This blog post links to a complete list of IBM acquisitions since 2001 through and including 2024. These acquisitions are listed by year for each Chief Executive Officer and include (1) a list of the acquisitions by year from 2001 to 2024, (2) total number of acquisitions by year during the chief executive officer's tenure, and (3) total amount spent each year on that year's acquisitions with each year and each executive tenure totaled for comparison.
Andrew Carnegie on "Bossing Your Boss" in Business"Always break orders to save the owners [of the business].
"There is nothing he [or she] will like so well if he [or she] is the right kind of boss; if he [or she] is not, he [or she] is not the individual for you to remain with - leave when ever you can, even at a present sacrifice, and find one capable of discerning genius."
The History of the IBM Business Machines NewspaperThe first issue of International Business Machines Newspaper was published by the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (C-T-R Company) in July 1919. The C-T-R Company wouldn't formally and legally change its name to International Business Machines until 1924, but it had used the name "International Business Machines" for years in its advertising and promotional material. This is an example of this trend toward a full and legal name of "International Business Machines" which was at that time being used in Canada. Below is an image from this first issue of the International Business Machines Magazine: Volume 1 Number 1 showing the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company as the publishing entity.  Peter F. Drucker on Thomas J. Watson Sr.
I believe you will see an amazing correlation between the two and understand why Peter F. Drucker, in the excerpt provided, wrote so highly of Thomas J. Watson Sr. in Esquire Magazine in 1983. Peter E. Greulich, November 2025
Quotes from Eisenhower's "The White House Years: Waging Peace."
“Waging Peace,” Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1965
Old Men Talking: On a Father's LoveIt is hard to say when this group of old men first met. When one of Rudy’s employees asked, for a bemused moment they all strained to recall, but then they decided it wasn’t really that important. It was though; it was one of those nagging questions that if not answered supposed that they were too old to remember.
They believed that their joint memories would eventually uncover that initial conversation that made Rudy’s 360 what it was today: a breakfast-home away from home and a reenactment of an old Texas settlers’ tradition, a gathering of old men discussing life with all its twists and turns.
Sometimes these discussions could turn faster than a cuttin’ horse, and gore quicker and deeper than an ornery steer. Today was an example. Mike asked, “Jim, what do you think of all this hoopla over the definition of marriage?” Eisenhower's Respect for the Dignity and History of the White HouseSelect either the image or highlighted link below to read the full review available on this website. The excerpt below is from President Dwight D. Eisenhower's book: "The White House Years: Mandate for Change." “The American system places all this responsibility and authority [of the chief of state combined with the head of government] in the hands of the President, and the White House has for us the significance of Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street combined. "Consequently we accord to the words “White House” a respect that amounts almost to veneration. …
“We liked the White House and all it stood for. “First occupied by John Adams, it conveyed to us much of the dignity, the simple greatness of America. Because of this feeling, we never felt that we had any right to make major changes in the structure itself or in its principal furnishings.” “Mandate for Change,” Dwight D. Eisenhower
President Eisenhower's Thoughts Entering the White HouseThis is what our 34th President--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, wrote about what he saw and thought upon entering the White House West Wing for the first time as our newly elected leader. As the image below shows, this was a most humble insight into the heart of a great individual after he had been truly given a "Mandate for Change" by the country at large. Newly elected President Eisenhower wrote the following:
In truly great democracies, truly great individuals control their egos as they understand and acknowledge where their legitimate source of power resides ... in the people. Peter E. Greulich, 2025
Book Review of "Crusade in Europe" by Dwight D. EisenhowerThis is the first work that I have read that was written by Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of America’s foremost World War II Generals and elected afterward as the 34th President of the United States. I highly recommend this work to both the politically curious, the student of World War II, the general historian, and to those who would like to read further about the individuals who inhabited the corner office of the United States of America.
I am glad I read this work of Eisenhower, recommend it to others and think it is as relevant today as it was in 1948 when it was first published in the United States—as a record setting non-fiction book.
General Eisenhower Offers a Humorous, Complimentary Perspective on Winston ChurchillI am currently reading Dwight D. Eisenhower's book, "Crusade in Europe." This was published in 1948 shortly after the end of World War II. In this book Eisenhower wrote the following about Winston Churchill:
When I toured the Winston Churchill War Rooms in London a few years back, I don't remember seeing this quote. I think it would flow tremendously well with some of the other insights I have read about both of these tremendous leaders during a time of adversity and war. Peter E. Greulich, Author, Publisher and Public Speaker
George Marshall Disliked These Personality Traits in SubordinatesDwight D. Eisenhower wrote the following of General George C. Marshall in his book, "Crusade in Europe" which was published in 1948:
“He was irritated by those who were often in trouble with others or who were too stupid to see that leadership in conference, even with subordinates, was as important as leadership on the battlefield. “General Marshall could not stand the pessimist—the individual who was always painting difficulties in the darkest colors and was excessively fearful of the means at hand for overcoming them. He would never assign an officer to a responsible position unless he believed that the man was an enthusiastic supporter of the particular project and confident of the outcome. … He believed in being on the offensive.” “Crusade in Europe,” Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1948
Summarized by Peter E. Greulich IBM's Recent 21st Century Patent History Is AbysmalThere is no taking away IBM’s decades of historical patent leadership from those who were responsible for moving ideas into the realm of patentable, revenue-producing offerings. Patents have been important to IBM since its founding.  Other American corporations such as the Eastman Kodak Corporation have transformed whole industries through patents. In its case, taking photography from the realm of professional only, to an enjoyable form of mass recreation: "You press the button ... we do the rest." In 1938, Tom Watson Sr. told his shareholders that in 1937 “85 patents with 985 claims were granted” and “299 applications were pending.” He commented that in the twenty-four years since he took over the company, it had obtained 1301 patents. In comparison, IBM was granted 9,126 patents in 2020. It is a proud history. Unfortunately for the corporation and its researchers, a major change has been taking place since Arvind Krishna took charge of the corporation. The quantity of IBM's patents has fallen every year for five years under Arvind Krishna's leadership.
IBM's yearly patent production is now down 73% in the last five years. In 2022 it fell from its leadership position. It has been falling further every year since. Thomas J. Watson Sr.: Grow Individuals to Grow Your BusinessThis video is from an article written by Thomas J. Watson Sr. for "System, The Magazine of Business" that was published in August, 1926. The theme of Watson Sr.'s article is that individuals ... men or women ... can not function properly if executives expect them to function as "automatons." Thomas J. Watson Sr. wrote, in part, the following: "When I became the head of this company in 1914, it was suggested that I dispense with a number of men connected with the executive staff. That is one thing I did not do; that is the one thing no thinking person in the same position should do. Yet it is the course of least resistance which some executives have followed upon coming into a business under similar circumstances - while stockholders paid the bill."
Reviews of "Year of Decisions" and "Years of Trial and Hope"The following memoirs were written by Harry S. Truman, our 33rd President of the United States, and this author has recently read and reviewed them:
"THINK" and Thoughtful Mistakes Will Be ForgivenThis was a speech given by Thomas J. Watson Sr. on February 12, 1930 at a meeting of executives and later published in Business Machines, IBM's corporate newspaper. "We have a motto, 'We Forgive Thoughtful Mistakes.' If a man told me that he had thought a thing over and gave me his reason for doing it, I do not care how wrong it might be, I would never criticize him, because he had done his best—he had put thought into it. "But if a man tells me that he did not think I do not like it. I do not like to overlook mistakes of that kind, because a man should think. I do not want you to interpret this as coming from me merely in the interests of the IBM. I want you to feel that I have talked to you for your own good as individuals because that is my intention. We cannot hope to build this business unless we build the individuals in it. "If you can take what I have said as my contribution to your personal success, I will feel that I have accomplished a great deal in coming up here to talk to you." "Executive Meeting," Thomas J. Watson Sr., 1930
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Peter E. GreulichPeter E. has been studying IBM and early American corporate history since his retirement in 2011. These are his thoughts and musings, and of those whose biographies and autobiographies he has read with links to articles and book reviews on this website. 
Contact the author directly.
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