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Founding Presidents (1789-1829)
- George Washington: The Father of the United States – Lesson
- John Adams: A Stubborn but Dedicated Leader – Lesson
- Thomas Jefferson: The Author of Independence – Lesson
- Founding Presidents: Washington, Adams, and Jefferson – Quiz
- James Madison: The Father of the Constitution – Lesson
- James Monroe: Opposing the Federalists – Lesson
- John Quincy Adams: The Federalists who Abandoned the Party – Lesson
- Founding Presidents: Madison, Monroe, and Adams – Quiz
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Civil War Presidents (1829-1869)
- Andrew Jackson: The First Democrat – Lesson
- Martin Van Buren: The Little Magician – Lesson
- Civil War Presidents: Jackson and Van Buren – Quiz
- William Henry Harrison: The Indian-Fighter – Lesson
- John Tyler: The First President to Not Be Elected – Lesson
- James Polk: Young Hickory – Lesson
- Zachary Taylor: Old Rough and Ready – Lesson
- Millard Fillmore: The Last Whig President – Lesson
- Franklin Pierce: A President Ruined by Slavery – Lesson
- Franklin Pierce: A President Ruined by Slavery – Quiz
- James Buchanan: A President for States’ Rights – Lesson
- James Buchanan: A President for States’ Rights – Quiz
- Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator – Lesson
- Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator – Quiz
- Andrew Johnson: The First President to Be Impeached – Lesson
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Reconstruction Presidents (1865-1901)
- Ulysses S. Grant: A Friend of Mark Twain – Lesson
- Ulysses S. Grant: A Friend of Mark Twain – Quiz
- Rutherford B. Hayes: The First President to Lose the Popular Vote – Lesson
- Rutherford B. Hayes: The First President to Lose the Popular Vote – Quiz
- James A. Garfield: The Last of the Log Cabin Presidents – Lesson
- James A. Garfield: The Last of the Log Cabin Presidents – Quiz
- Chester A. Arthur: A One Term President – Lesson
- Chester A. Arthur: A One Term President – Quiz
- Grover Cleveland: A President of Principle – Lesson
- Grover Cleveland: A President of Principle – Quiz
- Benjamin Harrison: The Second President in His Family – Lesson
- Benjamin Harrison: The Second President in His Family – Quiz
- William McKinley: The Third Presidential Assassination – Lesson
- William McKinley: The Third Presidential Assassination – Quiz
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20th Century Presidents
- Richard Nixon: The Only President to Ever Resign – Lesson
- Richard Nixon: The Only President to Ever Resign – Quiz
- Gerald Ford – America’s First Unelected President – Lesson
- Gerald Ford – America’s First Unelected President – Quiz
- Jimmy Carter – the President Who Promised He’d Never Lie – Lesson
- Jimmy Carter – the President Who Promised He’d Never Lie – Quiz
- Ronald Reagan – The ‘Peace Through Strength’ President – Lesson
- Ronald Reagan – The ‘Peace Through Strength’ President – Quiz
Grover Cleveland: A President of Principle – Lesson
“What is the use of being elected or re-elected unless you stand for something?”
Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837 – 1908) was the 22nd president of the United States. Before breaking into politics, he studied law and held several jobs. During the Civil War, Cleveland was able to avoid military service by paying $300 for a substitute to take his place. While that may seem shocking now, it was not uncommon at that time. He was the first Democrat after the war to be elected president and the only person to get a second four-year term that wasn’t immediately after the first (1885-1889 and 1893-1897). Cleveland won his presidency with support from the Democrats and reform Republicans, who were referred to as “Mugwumps.”
In 1886, Cleveland married his ward, Frances Folsom. Her father had been Cleveland’s law partner until he died. At the age of 21, Frances became the youngest first lady. Their wedding was the first and only held at the White House.
During the first term of his presidency, Cleveland presided over the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. He became known as the “guardian president” because of his frequent use of the veto power. Cleveland hated subsidies and believed that hardship built character, so he vetoed and barred anything resembling special favors.
In all, he used his veto power 584 times, which was more than double the number by all previous presidents. Franklin D. Roosevelt is the only president with more vetoes than Cleveland, but then he was elected to four terms.
Cleveland also dipped his political hands into the railroads, angering a lot of people when he ordered an investigation of western lands held by government grant. He used his powers to force the railroads to return 81,000,000 acres. Then he signed the Interstate Commerce Act which was the first law that attempted to apply federal regulation of the railroads. In Chicago, railroad strikers violated an injunction and the president sent in federal troops to enforce the order. “If it takes the entire army and navy of the United States to deliver a post card in Chicago,” he said, “that card will be delivered.”
Cleveland directed Congress to reduce high protective tariffs in December 1887. His staff was not too happy with the move and warned that he had just given the Republicans an advantage for the 1888 campaign. “What is the use of being elected or re-elected unless you stand for something?” he retorted, and then lost his party’s nomination for re-election.
In 1893, he ran again and was elected. In March 1897, Cleveland finished his final presidential term, but still remained active in politics.
An interesting fact: On display at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia is Cleveland’s “secret tumor,” an epithelioma that was removed from the roof of his mouth.