Grover Cleveland Facts

Grover Cleveland immediately stands out in any presidential lineup. Why? He appears twice, sandwiching poor Benjamin Harrison. Cleveland is the only U.S. president to have served two non-consecutive terms. Unfortunately, this unusual fact is pretty much all Cleveland is known for. But there's much more to this fascinating figure.

Born in New Jersey on March 18, 1837, he was christened Stephen Grover Cleveland. His family soon after moved to New York, and it was in New York where Cleveland would begin his political career. After practicing law, Cleveland entered the political arena in 1870, becoming sheriff and then mayor of Buffalo. Cleveland's strong work ethic and determination eventually got him to the governor's mansion. And just two years later, he became the 22nd president of the United States.

Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about Cleveland was that he was known for his honesty-not exactly a common attribute in politics. During his first bid for the presidency, news leaked that he had fathered an illegitimate son. Although he was not yet married, a scandal of this nature could ruin anyone's professional career. Cleveland could have easily denied the story; it wasn't even entirely certain if the child was his (he did choose to financially support his son when he learned his lover was pregnant). But he told the public the truth. Despite the initial moral outrage from voters, Cleveland was elected president.

In his official capacity of president, however, Cleveland was not so generous to women or the poor. Cleveland once said, "Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote" (qtd. in O'Brien). Cleveland cracked down on government corruption by refusing to give handouts, but he also refused to spend money on legitimate matters. Texans devastated by a drought received no help from Cleveland. In fact, Cleveland's nickname became the "Veto President," an appropriate label as he vetoed bills 584 times during his two terms.

This frugality, however, would eventually cost him. After Harrison and the Republicans proved incapable of making the changes voters wanted, Cleveland was elected to his second term in 1893. He carried on his policies of limited government. He ignored the poor and refused to allow his party to adopt the silver standard, which was believed to be the solution to the country's economic hardships. During the famous Pullman Strike of 1894, he sent troops to stop poverty-stricken railroad strikers from protesting.

The country reeled from a recession all throughout Cleveland's second term. As a result, the Democrats refused to nominate him for a third term and went with William Jennings Bryan. The Democrats lost anyway, and William McKinley became the 25th president.

Sources:

"Grover Cleveland." White House. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/GroverCleveland/

O'Brien, Cormac. Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents. Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2004.