Ulysses S. Grants kin says ex-prez would be proud of America at 250 years: Pluralistic and ethnically diverse

America celebrated its National Day of Jubilee, or 100th birthday, on July 4, 1876, then-President Ulysses S.Grant declaring it a “day of reflection and gratitude” as patriotic celebrations broke out across the rapidly growing country that was still reeling from the Civil War.“The Centennial Anniversary of the day on which the people of the United States declared their right to a separate and equal station among the Powers of the Earth seems to demand an exceptional observance,” Grant said in his June 26, 1876, proclamation encouraging religious services to mark the occasion.“It seems fitting that on the occurrence of the hundredth anniversary of our existence as a nation a grateful acknowledgment should be made to Almighty God for the protection and the bounties which He has vouchsafed to our beloved country,” the Union army hero wrote.As the country barrels toward its 250th year, many things have changed, but Ulysses Dietz, the youngest great-great-grandchild of Ulysses and former first lady Julia Grant, told The Post his historical ancestor would have a lot to be proud of — and find many things surprising.“I think a lot of great things have been achieved that he would be pleased at because they were part of his vision for what could be,” Dietz said of his great-great grandfather, who championed civil rights during Reconstruction.

“I think he would also see a lot of bad things that were also bad when he was president and be disappointed that we haven’t overcome that,” he added.Surprisingly, Dietz, 71, the now-retired longtime decorative arts curator of the Newark Museum of Art in New Jersey, said his famous lineage wasn’t a major part of his upbringing, and that his grandfather, Ulysses, from whom he inherited his robust moniker, never really sat him down to talk about it.“I’ve always been sort of sorry about that, he died when I was 12.But the family never really talked about it,” he lamented, pointing out that their ambivalence ...