 Following Stephenson's death, the GAR grew from a charitable organization for Union widows and wounded veterans to the country's most powerful single-issue political group in the late 19th century.It was the nation's first veterans association open to both officers and enlisted men and membership grew to over 400,000.The GAR was responsible for securing large pensions for veterans and members played an active role in the election of six Union veterans as U.S. president.