Grover Cleveland

Author Code: AGCX

Cleveland began as an apprentice in a law firm when he was only 15. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and became mayor of Buffalo, New York in 1881. He was elected governor of New York on the Democratic ticket in 1882. Cleveland was a staunch opponent of the corruption of Tammany Hall and ran for president on a "clean government" platform. He was elected President in 1884, in spite of revelations that he was supporting an illegitimate son. During his administration the civil service was reformed and the Civil War pension bills were vetoed. Cleveland also worked vigorously against thecorruption within his own party. In 1888, Cleveland lost the election to Benjamin Harrison, in spite of having the larger popular vote. In the election of 1892, Cleveland again won and became the only man to hold the office of president on two non-consecutive terms. During his second administration, Cleveland fought his party with regards to preserving the gold standard which he supported and made matters worse when he called out Federal troops to end the Pullman strike in 1894. By 1896, the Democrats supported William Jennings Bryan as their candidate and Cleveland did not run for a third term.