Presidents: Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland has the unique distinction of being the only president to serve his two terms non-consecutively.

Stephen Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey.

He was the son of a Presbyterian minister, Richard Falley Cleveland and his wife, Ann Neal Cleveland. He was the fifth of nine children and did not go by Grover until adulthood.

After his father died in 1853, Cleveland left school to help support his family. In 1859, with the mentorship of his uncle, he passed the bar.

In January 1863, shortly after setting out to start his own practice, he was appointed district attorney of Erie County, New York.

Cleveland chose to not actively serve in the Civil War, but paid a Polish immigrant to serve in his place.

Cleveland joined the Democratic Party and in 1870 was elected Sheriff of Erie County, New York. In 1882, he became Mayor of Buffalo. He spent much of his time in the office fighting the party machines.

In 1883, he became the Governor of New York. But a year later at the 1884 Democratic National Convention, he won their nomination. He won the election for president by a narrow note.

On March 4, 1885, Cleveland took the oath as President as the 22nd President. At this time he was unmarried and his sister, Rose, served as his hostess. There had only been one bachelor president before him, James Buchanan

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During this first term, Cleveland dealt with the Interstate Commerce Act and often used his veto powers to pass laws. He also dealt with the debate of whether the currency should be backed by both gold and silver or just gold.

He also dedicated the Statue of Liberty and saw Geronimo surrender.

Two years into his term in office, he married the daughter of a good friend of his. On June 2, 1886 he married Frances Folsom in the White House. He is the only president to marry in the White House. The couple would have five children together.

In the 1888 election, he was defeated by Benjamin Harrison. He returned to private life and his law career.

In late 1891, Frances had their first child, Ruth. She would be referred to as Baby Ruth upon return to the White House. This name would inspire the candy bar.

In 1892, he wrote a letter about money being backed by silver which brought him back to into the spotlight. This was just in time for the 1892 Election.

He won the nomination for the Democratic Party and once again campaigned against Benjamin Harrison. This time Grover Cleveland won the election.

On March 4, 1893 he became the 24th President. Shortly after he took office the Panic of 1893 struck the stock market. He also faced the decision of annexing Hawaii. He also saw Utah added to the Union.

On July 1, 1893, he had a secret surgery on-board the Oneida, to remove a cancerous tumor on his mouth.

Later, in 1893, their daughter Esther was born, making her the first Presidential child born in the White House.

In 1895 he became the first U.S. President who was filmed.

On March 4, 1897, he completed his second term as president. He retired to his estate, Westland Mansion, in Princeton, New Jersey. He continued to make his views known on political matters.

In early 1904, his oldest child, Ruth, died.

His health began to decline, even while some Democrats tried to promote him as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

He suffered a heart attack and died on June 24, 1908. His last words were, “I have tried so hard to do right.” He is buried in the Princeton Cemetery of the Nassau Presbyterian Church.