President Ulysses S. Grant
A Living History Presentation
Saturday, February 17, 2024 11 AM
Belmar Public Library
President Ulysses S. Grant
A Living History Presentation
Saturday, February 17, 2024 11 AM
Belmar Public Library
As portrayed by Professional Actor-Historian
Kenneth J. Serfass
Performing in character
President US Grant – Considering A Second Term
It was nearly inconceivable to Grant himself that he was elected ONE time,
but on the cusp of a second term there was much to consider. The goals and
aspirations stated in the first inaugural address were a mission statement and
promise to the American people that his term would be about restoring the Union ina way that would benefit ALL Americans.
The program will open the door as to how Grant campaigned for the
presidency and how as chief executive he met and closed with the established
politicians, who underestimated Grant for his political acumen. Life for Grant and his family was changed forever, and there are stories to tell from all sides of his time as President. There was much to be proud of that resulted from his leadership in the Executive Mansion, and he knew there was still much to be done, not just for the south, but for the recently enfranchised “Freedmen”, as well as the Natives of our land.
You will have an opportunity to discuss in person with the 18 th president how he perceived the challenges not just for him, but for the nation as a whole in the first election following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
When guests come to understand the uphill battle Grant willingly accepted,
they will also begin to see how great his accomplishments were given the nature of an outsider holding the reigns and doing the will of the people and not becoming a professional politician.
ABOUT THE ACTOR
Gunnery Sgt Kenneth J. Serfass (USMC Retired) is a native of Bethlehem, PA born on June 18th, 1966. A US Marine since 1984, his last unit was the First Marine Division Band during Operation Iraqi Freedom, retiring in July of 2004 to become a music teacher.
Ken is a former civil war “reenactor” but now a first-person impressionist with fifty years studying his childhood hero, US Grant. As a full-time professional living historian portraying Grant, he presents between 11 and up to 23 appearances each month between February and November. Ken began appearing as General Grant in 2009 while living in San Diego CA, and since returning to the east coast, he is engaged on horseback tours, rail road excursions, presenting school programs, living history and roundtable events, speaking at public libraries on a regular basis, and annually in Southern California at Huntington Beach’s Civil War Days over Labor Day weekend.
His repertoire includes programs on Grant’s battle campaigns, his interactions with Lincoln, Sherman, and Lee, and most importantly, the Grant family, and the two terms as the 18th US President. This led to being cast as President Grant for a documentary featured on Fox Nation, debuting October 10, 2021.
It is with a profound honor that he tells the story of one of America’s greatest military leaders and Ken takes it very seriously to reaffirm Grant’s place of honor among the most respected people of our nation’s history.