How Grover Cleveland Became President (the first time)
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the son of a Presbyterian minister. In 1850, Cleveland's father took a position at a church in Clinton, Oneida County, New York, and later in Holland Patent, New York, near Utica and the family moved again. After his father died in 1853, 16 year old Grover left school to help support his family. Later that year, Cleveland's brother William was hired as a teacher at the New York Institute for the Blind in New York City, and Grover went to work there as an assistant teacher. He returned home to Holland Patent at the end of 1854. In 1855 he decided to move west, going to Buffalo, where his uncle, Lewis W. Allen gave him a clerical job. Allen introduced his nephew to the partners in the law firm of Rogers, Bowen, and Rogers. Cleveland took a clerkship with the firm where he began to study law. He was admitted to the New York State bar in 1859.
Cleveland worked for the Rogers firm for three years, leaving in 1862 to begin his own practice. In January 1863, he was appointed assistant district attorney of Erie County. The Civil War had began two years earlier and when Congress passed the Conscription Act of 1863, all able-bodied men were required either to serve in the army if drafted, or to hire a substitute. When Cleveland was called to serve, he chose instead to pay a substitute. He paid George Benninsky, a thirty-two year-old Polish immigrant, $150 to serve in his place.
Cleveland continued to practice law in Buffalo during and after the war. He became active politically with the Democratic Party. The Rogers law firm was made up of Democrat supporters. In 1865, Cleveland ran for District Attorney, losing narrowly to the Republican candidate. In 1870, he received the Democratic nomination for Sheriff of Erie County and hee won the election by 303 votes. The job paid well, paying fees of up to $40,000 (US$800 thousand in present day dollars) over the two-year term. Cleveland was aware that there was graft in the sheriff's office, but did not confront it. On September 6, 1872, Cleveland supervised the execution of Patrick Morrissey, who had been convicted of murdering his mother. As sheriff, Cleveland carried out the execution (a hanging) personally, even though he had the option of paying a deputy $10 to perform the task. Cleveland hanged another murderer, John Gaffney, on February 14, 1873. Cleveland is considered to be the answer to the trivia question "which President killed a man?" (Others also likely took one or more lives in the course of military service.)
After his term as sheriff ended, Cleveland returned to his law practice. One of his partners, Lyman K. Bass, was elected to Congress in 1873, and Cleveland's firm became the leading law firm in Buffalo. It was during this period that Cleveland began a brief relationship with a widow, Maria Crofts Halpin, and later assumed responsibility for supporting her and a child born at the time. The matter would become significant later during his first presidential campaign.
In the 1870s, the municipal government in Buffalo was reputed to be very corrupt, with political machines from both parties dividing the spoils of political office. In 1881 the Democratic party recruited Cleveland to run for Mayor of Buffalo. Cleveland was elected mayor and took office January 2, 1882. Cleveland's term as mayor was spent fighting the party machines. As mayor, he had a veto and used it to cancel a street-cleaning bill that awarded the street-cleaning contract to the highest bidder for $422,000, rather than the lowest of $100,000 less, because of the political connections of the winning bidder. The Council reversed themselves and awarded the contract to the lowest bidder. Cleveland developed a plan to improve the sewer system in Buffalo at a much lower cost than previously estimated. He earned a reputation for prudent management of public funds, and as a leader willing to battle against government corruption.
Cleveland's name was considered by New York Democratic party officials as a possible nominee for governor. The state Republican party was factionally divided in 1882, and the Democratic party was considered to be a strong favorite in the upcoming election. Competition was fierce for the party's nomination for governor. When the convention could not agree on a nominee, Cleveland, who was in third place on the first ballot, emerged as the compromise choice. Cleveland defeated the Republican nominee Charles J. Folger by what was, at the time, the largest majority in a contested New York election for governor. The Democrats also picked up seats in both houses of the New York State Legislature.
As New York's Governor, Cleveland battled needless spending of state funds and sent eight vetoes to the legislature in his first two months in office. He vetoed a bill to reduce the fares on New York City elevated trains, a bill which was popular because the trains' owner, Jay Gould, was intensely disliked for his fare increases. Cleveland supported Gould, who had taken over the railroads when they were failing and made the system solvent. Theodore Roosevelt, praised Cleveland on occasion, despite their being members of opposite parties.
Cleveland battled political corruption, making an enemy of the influential Tammany Hall organization in New York City. Tammany boss John Kelly had opposed Cleveland's nomination as governor, and their resistance intensified after Cleveland prevented the re-election of their leader in the State Senate, Thomas F. Grady. Cleveland opposed almost all Tammany Hall nominees for state offices, as well as bills passed as a result of their deal making. The loss of Tammany's support was offset by support of Theodore Roosevelt and other reform-minded Republicans.
In the Presidential election of 1884, Republicans nominated former Speaker of the House James G. Blaine of Maine for president on the fourth ballot. Blaine's nomination put off many Republicans, who saw Blaine as corrupt. Blaine alienated the Stalwart faction of the party. With the Republicans divided, the Democratic party saw this as a great opportunity to win the White House for the first time since 1856.
Samuel J. Tilden was the initial front-runner for the Democrats, having been the party's nominee in the contested election of 1876, but his poor health forced his supporters to look elsewhere. Cleveland was an appealing candidate to many factions, other than those affiliated with Tammany Hall. Cleveland led on the first ballot at the Democratic Party's nominating convention, with 392 votes out of 820. On the second ballot, Tammany threw its support behind Benjamin Butler, but the rest of the delegates shifted to Cleveland, who won the nomination. Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was selected as his running mate.
Political corruption was the central issue in the 1884 presidential election. Blaine's reputation was tarnished due to several questionable deals he had been involved in, while Cleveland had established a reputation as an opponent of corruption. William C. Hudson created Cleveland's campaign slogan "A public office is a public trust." Reform-minded Republicans called "Mugwumps" criticized their candidate Blaine as corrupt and supported Cleveland. The Mugwumps believed that Cleveland would promote civil service reform and efficiency in government. Democrats lost some blue-collar support to the Greenback-Labor party, led by ex-Democrat Benjamin Butler.
In the campaign Cleveland followed the precedent of of the time by doing little campaigning, while Blaine chose to break with tradition. The campaign was spun to focus on the candidates' personalities. Cleveland's supporters raised old allegations that Blaine had corruptly influenced legislation in favor of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad and the Union Pacific Railway, later profiting on the sale of bonds he owned in both companies. Blaine's correspondence from the time was discovered, making his denials less credible. On some of the most damaging correspondence, Blaine had written "Burn this letter." Democrats proclaimed: "Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, the continental liar from the state of Maine, 'Burn this letter!"
To counter this attack on their candidate, Blaine supporters attacked Cleveland's character. The published allegations that Cleveland had fathered an illegitimate child while he was a lawyer in Buffalo, and their chant was "Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?". Cleveland adopted a strategy of facing the scandal head on. He admitted to paying child support in 1874 to Maria Crofts Halpin, the woman who claimed he fathered her child, named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Halpin was involved with several men at the time, including Cleveland's friend and law partner, Oscar Folsom. No one knew for sure who the child's father was, and Cleveland is believed to have assumed responsibility because he was the only bachelor among the eligible fathers. Several Republican newspapers published an affidavit from Halpin in which she stated that until she met Cleveland her "life was pure and spotless". She insisted that Cleveland was the child's father.
The states of New York, New Jersey, Indiana, and Connecticut held the key to the election. In New York, Republican Samuel D. Burchard gave a speech denouncing the Democrats as the party of "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion". This was taken to be an insult against Roman Catholics, a significant voting block, one the supported Cleveland on election day.
On election day Cleveland narrowly won all four of the swing states. The popular vote total was close (Cleveland won by just one-quarter of a percent) but the electoral votes were not as close. Cleveland won a majority of 219–182. Thus began the first of Grover Cleveland's two non-consecutive terms as President.
Cleveland worked for the Rogers firm for three years, leaving in 1862 to begin his own practice. In January 1863, he was appointed assistant district attorney of Erie County. The Civil War had began two years earlier and when Congress passed the Conscription Act of 1863, all able-bodied men were required either to serve in the army if drafted, or to hire a substitute. When Cleveland was called to serve, he chose instead to pay a substitute. He paid George Benninsky, a thirty-two year-old Polish immigrant, $150 to serve in his place.
Cleveland continued to practice law in Buffalo during and after the war. He became active politically with the Democratic Party. The Rogers law firm was made up of Democrat supporters. In 1865, Cleveland ran for District Attorney, losing narrowly to the Republican candidate. In 1870, he received the Democratic nomination for Sheriff of Erie County and hee won the election by 303 votes. The job paid well, paying fees of up to $40,000 (US$800 thousand in present day dollars) over the two-year term. Cleveland was aware that there was graft in the sheriff's office, but did not confront it. On September 6, 1872, Cleveland supervised the execution of Patrick Morrissey, who had been convicted of murdering his mother. As sheriff, Cleveland carried out the execution (a hanging) personally, even though he had the option of paying a deputy $10 to perform the task. Cleveland hanged another murderer, John Gaffney, on February 14, 1873. Cleveland is considered to be the answer to the trivia question "which President killed a man?" (Others also likely took one or more lives in the course of military service.)
After his term as sheriff ended, Cleveland returned to his law practice. One of his partners, Lyman K. Bass, was elected to Congress in 1873, and Cleveland's firm became the leading law firm in Buffalo. It was during this period that Cleveland began a brief relationship with a widow, Maria Crofts Halpin, and later assumed responsibility for supporting her and a child born at the time. The matter would become significant later during his first presidential campaign.
In the 1870s, the municipal government in Buffalo was reputed to be very corrupt, with political machines from both parties dividing the spoils of political office. In 1881 the Democratic party recruited Cleveland to run for Mayor of Buffalo. Cleveland was elected mayor and took office January 2, 1882. Cleveland's term as mayor was spent fighting the party machines. As mayor, he had a veto and used it to cancel a street-cleaning bill that awarded the street-cleaning contract to the highest bidder for $422,000, rather than the lowest of $100,000 less, because of the political connections of the winning bidder. The Council reversed themselves and awarded the contract to the lowest bidder. Cleveland developed a plan to improve the sewer system in Buffalo at a much lower cost than previously estimated. He earned a reputation for prudent management of public funds, and as a leader willing to battle against government corruption.
Cleveland's name was considered by New York Democratic party officials as a possible nominee for governor. The state Republican party was factionally divided in 1882, and the Democratic party was considered to be a strong favorite in the upcoming election. Competition was fierce for the party's nomination for governor. When the convention could not agree on a nominee, Cleveland, who was in third place on the first ballot, emerged as the compromise choice. Cleveland defeated the Republican nominee Charles J. Folger by what was, at the time, the largest majority in a contested New York election for governor. The Democrats also picked up seats in both houses of the New York State Legislature.
As New York's Governor, Cleveland battled needless spending of state funds and sent eight vetoes to the legislature in his first two months in office. He vetoed a bill to reduce the fares on New York City elevated trains, a bill which was popular because the trains' owner, Jay Gould, was intensely disliked for his fare increases. Cleveland supported Gould, who had taken over the railroads when they were failing and made the system solvent. Theodore Roosevelt, praised Cleveland on occasion, despite their being members of opposite parties.
Cleveland battled political corruption, making an enemy of the influential Tammany Hall organization in New York City. Tammany boss John Kelly had opposed Cleveland's nomination as governor, and their resistance intensified after Cleveland prevented the re-election of their leader in the State Senate, Thomas F. Grady. Cleveland opposed almost all Tammany Hall nominees for state offices, as well as bills passed as a result of their deal making. The loss of Tammany's support was offset by support of Theodore Roosevelt and other reform-minded Republicans.
In the Presidential election of 1884, Republicans nominated former Speaker of the House James G. Blaine of Maine for president on the fourth ballot. Blaine's nomination put off many Republicans, who saw Blaine as corrupt. Blaine alienated the Stalwart faction of the party. With the Republicans divided, the Democratic party saw this as a great opportunity to win the White House for the first time since 1856.
Samuel J. Tilden was the initial front-runner for the Democrats, having been the party's nominee in the contested election of 1876, but his poor health forced his supporters to look elsewhere. Cleveland was an appealing candidate to many factions, other than those affiliated with Tammany Hall. Cleveland led on the first ballot at the Democratic Party's nominating convention, with 392 votes out of 820. On the second ballot, Tammany threw its support behind Benjamin Butler, but the rest of the delegates shifted to Cleveland, who won the nomination. Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana was selected as his running mate.
Political corruption was the central issue in the 1884 presidential election. Blaine's reputation was tarnished due to several questionable deals he had been involved in, while Cleveland had established a reputation as an opponent of corruption. William C. Hudson created Cleveland's campaign slogan "A public office is a public trust." Reform-minded Republicans called "Mugwumps" criticized their candidate Blaine as corrupt and supported Cleveland. The Mugwumps believed that Cleveland would promote civil service reform and efficiency in government. Democrats lost some blue-collar support to the Greenback-Labor party, led by ex-Democrat Benjamin Butler.
In the campaign Cleveland followed the precedent of of the time by doing little campaigning, while Blaine chose to break with tradition. The campaign was spun to focus on the candidates' personalities. Cleveland's supporters raised old allegations that Blaine had corruptly influenced legislation in favor of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad and the Union Pacific Railway, later profiting on the sale of bonds he owned in both companies. Blaine's correspondence from the time was discovered, making his denials less credible. On some of the most damaging correspondence, Blaine had written "Burn this letter." Democrats proclaimed: "Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, the continental liar from the state of Maine, 'Burn this letter!"
To counter this attack on their candidate, Blaine supporters attacked Cleveland's character. The published allegations that Cleveland had fathered an illegitimate child while he was a lawyer in Buffalo, and their chant was "Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?". Cleveland adopted a strategy of facing the scandal head on. He admitted to paying child support in 1874 to Maria Crofts Halpin, the woman who claimed he fathered her child, named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Halpin was involved with several men at the time, including Cleveland's friend and law partner, Oscar Folsom. No one knew for sure who the child's father was, and Cleveland is believed to have assumed responsibility because he was the only bachelor among the eligible fathers. Several Republican newspapers published an affidavit from Halpin in which she stated that until she met Cleveland her "life was pure and spotless". She insisted that Cleveland was the child's father.
The states of New York, New Jersey, Indiana, and Connecticut held the key to the election. In New York, Republican Samuel D. Burchard gave a speech denouncing the Democrats as the party of "Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion". This was taken to be an insult against Roman Catholics, a significant voting block, one the supported Cleveland on election day.
On election day Cleveland narrowly won all four of the swing states. The popular vote total was close (Cleveland won by just one-quarter of a percent) but the electoral votes were not as close. Cleveland won a majority of 219–182. Thus began the first of Grover Cleveland's two non-consecutive terms as President.