Early Life

Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. His family moved to New York when he was young, but he could not attend college because of his father's death. Nevertheless, he studied hard, and in 1859 he was admitted to the New York Bar Association.

First Presidency

Grover's political career quickly blossomed in Buffalo, New York. In 1863, he became assistant district attorney; in 1871, he became sheriff; in 1881, he became mayor; and in 1882, he became governor of New York. In 1884, he defeated Republican James Blaine in the presidential race. In 1885, he entered office. During his first term as president, Grover enlarged the civil service and vetoed pension raids on the Treasury. In addition, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated and the American Federation of Labor was formed. Despite his popularity, Grover Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison in his bid for reelection in 1889.

Second Presidency

In 1892, Grover Cleveland defeated Benjamin Harrison in the popular election and became the first and only president to serve two non-consecutive terms as president (his two terms were separated by Benjamin Harrison's presidency). Unfortunately for Cleveland, he entered his second term in a difficult position. The country was experiencing a money crisis brought about by a lowered gold reserve and questionable spending. Cleveland was unsuccessful in his attempt to thwart an impending depression and refused to interfere in business matters or rising unemployment. In 1894, an unemployed worker named Jacob Coxey mobilized an army of jobless workers who walked from the Midwest to Washington DC demanding unemployment relief and legislation. Cleveland rejected Coxey's demands, and Coxey was arrested for trespassing. In 1896, the Democratic Party chose to nominate William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate rather than Grover Cleveland. Grover Cleveland died on June 24, 1908. He was honored on the United States $1,000 bill before it was taken out of circulation.

Most Well-Known Quote

"A public office is a public trust." – Grover Cleveland

Discussion Questions

1. Why was Grover Cleveland unable to attend college, and how did he overcome this challenge?
2. What were two major accomplishments of Cleveland's first presidency?
3. Why was Cleveland's second term considered difficult, and how did he respond to the economic crisis?
4. What is significant about Cleveland's place in U.S. presidential history?

Glossary

• Civil Service: Government jobs based on merit rather than political connections.
• Pension: A regular payment to retired workers, often from the government.
• Depression: A severe and prolonged downturn in economic activity.
• Gold Reserve: The stock of gold held by the government to back its currency.
• Nominate: To formally select someone as a candidate for election.

Five Interesting Facts

• Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
• He vetoed more bills than any other president up to his time in office.
• The Statue of Liberty was dedicated during his first term in 1886.
• He personally answered the White House phone when he was president.
• His image once appeared on the U.S. $1,000 bill.

Timeline of Grover Cleveland's Life

1. 1837 – Born in Caldwell, New Jersey.
2. 1859 – Admitted to the New York Bar Association.
3. 1863 – Became assistant district attorney in Buffalo.
4. 1871 – Elected sheriff of Erie County.
5. 1881 – Became mayor of Buffalo.
6. 1882 – Elected governor of New York.
7. 1884 – Won the presidential election against James Blaine.
8. 1885 – Began first term as U.S. president.
9. 1886 – Statue of Liberty dedicated.
10. 1889 – Lost reelection to Benjamin Harrison.
11. 1892 – Won presidential election again, defeating Harrison.
12. 1893 – Began second term as U.S. president.
13. 1894 – Coxey's Army marched on Washington.
14. 1896 – Democratic Party nominated William Jennings Bryan instead of Cleveland.
15. 1908 – Died on June 24 in Princeton, New Jersey.