In resigning from the army to run for president, Grant had forfeited his military pension, and ex-presidents had no pension. The Democrats in Congress petulantly blocked the restoration of the military pension he had lost on becoming president. The Senate eventually passed a bill, but President Arthur said he would veto it if it reached his desk because he had already vetoed similar pension bills. Arthur offered a separate nonmilitary pension, but Grant refused it as charity.44
