In 1872, the unimaginable occurred—a sitting U.S. president was arrested right in the heart of Washington, D.C., for speeding. This episode takes you through the tale of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president and Civil War hero, who found himself in a unique position—being held to account by an ordinary patrol officer. Discover the narrative of duty, law, and humility as Officer William H. West, a Black Union Army veteran, stopped the president's horse-drawn carriage and issued a ticket like it was any other routine stop.

This story isn't just a whimsical footnote in history; it's a powerful demonstration of the principles of accountability that underpin a functioning democracy. We journey through this extraordinary event and contemplate what it means when no one, not even the most powerful person in the nation, is above the law. This episode of Time Tellers promises a captivating dive into a past where leadership meant owning up to your deeds—an example set by Grant that may seem rare in today's era.

Join us as we unravel this historical spectacle and ask ourselves: Could this happen in our modern world of legal shields and political maneuvers? How does a single moment of justice resonate through the corridors of history, so much so that it still shapes our understanding of power and responsibility today?