Grover Cleveland: The 22nd and 24th President of the United States
Grover Cleveland holds a unique place in American history as the only individual to serve two nonconsecutive terms as President — first from 1885 to 1889, and again from 1893 to 1897. A Democrat elected after the divisive years of the Civil War, Cleveland’s return to office reflected the shifting political landscape of the late nineteenth century.
Born in Caldwell, New Jersey, in 1837, Cleveland was one of nine children in the family of a Presbyterian minister. His upbringing in upstate New York instilled in him a sense of discipline and moral conviction that would later shape his political philosophy. Trained as a lawyer in Buffalo, he quickly gained a reputation for diligence, honesty, and unwavering focus — qualities that drew attention from civic leaders and reformers.
At age forty-four, Cleveland’s rise to prominence was swift. Elected Mayor of Buffalo in 1881, he became known for his fight against political corruption. Within a year, his integrity propelled him to the governorship of New York, where he earned bipartisan respect. By 1884, the combination of Democratic support and the backing of reform-minded Republicans — nicknamed “Mugwumps” — secured his election to the presidency over James G. Blaine of Maine.
Initially uncomfortable in the refined atmosphere of the White House, Cleveland’s straightforward personality often clashed with the formality of his surroundings. He once confided to a friend that he would have preferred a modest meal of “pickled herring and Swiss cheese” to the elaborate dinners required by protocol. His life changed dramatically in June 1886, when he married Frances Folsom, a 21-year-old woman who became the youngest First Lady in American history and the only one married in the White House itself.
As president, Cleveland maintained a firm belief in limited government and fiscal restraint. He consistently rejected legislation that he viewed as favoring specific economic groups or undermining individual responsibility. His veto of a bill to aid Texas farmers affected by drought made his philosophy clear: government assistance, he warned, could “weaken the sturdiness of our national character.” He also vetoed numerous private pension bills for Civil War veterans, particularly those based on fraudulent claims, and even rejected a broader pension bill backed by veterans’ organizations.
Cleveland’s commitment to fairness extended to the regulation of business and land. He ordered investigations into vast tracts of land held by railroad companies under federal grants, forcing them to return more than 81 million acres to the government. His administration also oversaw the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, the first major federal effort to regulate railroad practices and ensure fair treatment for all shippers.
One of Cleveland’s boldest political stands came in 1887 when he urged Congress to lower protective tariffs, a position that alienated many within his own party. Critics warned that he had handed Republicans a powerful campaign issue, to which he replied, “What is the use of being elected or re-elected unless you stand for something?” His stance cost him the 1888 election: although he won the popular vote, he lost the Electoral College to Benjamin Harrison.
Returning to the presidency in 1893, Cleveland faced a deep national depression marked by bank failures, unemployment, and widespread hardship. He focused on stabilizing the Treasury rather than directly intervening in the economy. Repealing the inflationary Sherman Silver Purchase Act, he relied on private financiers to maintain the gold standard and preserve federal solvency. His decision to send federal troops to quell the violent Pullman Strike in Chicago underscored his belief in the rule of law, famously declaring that “if it takes the entire army and navy of the United States to deliver a postcard in Chicago, that card will be delivered.”
Cleveland’s strong-willed approach earned him both admiration and criticism. Many praised his commitment to constitutional principles and national integrity, while others condemned his handling of economic and labor issues. His insistence that Great Britain submit to arbitration over the Venezuelan boundary dispute strengthened America’s international standing, yet his refusal to embrace populist economic reforms alienated many Democrats. By 1896, his party had turned to William Jennings Bryan and the growing movement for free silver.
After leaving public life, Cleveland retired to Princeton, New Jersey, where he remained active in civic affairs and education. He passed away in 1908, remembered as a steadfast advocate of honesty, fiscal discipline, and limited government — an independent leader whose principles often outweighed political expediency.