Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character

excellent volume about America's only non consecutive 2 term presidency. Great narrative of his meteoric rise to power, his wonderful 1st presidency, his struggles between and return to power, and a disasterous 2nd term. Lots of insight into his personal feelings between and after his presidencies as to his view on the state of American affairs while not in power. highly recommend

There are few people who would find the Gilded Age a fascinating time to read about but if you are one of them this biography is perfect. If you are curious about the only honest politician during that era then this is the book for you. Although elected to two terms (non consecutively) see how this democrat filled in the shoes of a largely republican era. This is by far the best biography of Cleveland in print and while some may be turned off by his politicking at the time they fail to realize it was simply the way of things. Cleveland played the political game as honestly as he could and did an excellent job in doing so. Fascinating story about an interesting time in our political history.

Alyn Brodsky did an outstanding job in this biography of a relatively little known, but interesting president. He did a great job in not only describing the events of Cleveland's life in great detail, but also gave us a fascinating look at the man's character and personality.One thing that is particularly enjoyable about the book is that it doesn't seem to drag on any useless details. The pace is nearly as rapid as the speed at which Cleveland rose through the ranks of the political hierarchy to become President of the United States. Brodsky shows in detail all of Cleveland's enemies and difficulties ranging from James G. Blaine to the Panic of 1893-1897 that would mark his second term. Throughout the book Brodsky continually shows the steadfast nature of Cleveland through all of these troubles. Brodsky shows how Cleveland would defy even his own party to do what he believed was the right thing to do no matter what the cost. A constant theme throughout the book is the Cleveland did not seem to care much about his own popularity in his decisions. He believed above all else that his loyalty was the the U.S. and not to any political party as Brodsky pointed out so clearly. Particularly well done, aleast in my opinion, were the detailed series of passages describing Cleveland's handeling of the Depression of 1893-1897. In particular the passages about the Treasury crisis and the process by which the Wilson-Gorman Tariff came into being were extremely fascinating in their detail.Overall, I would reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in presidential history and in particular more obscure presidents such as Grover Cleveland.

Having just endured vacuousness on a grand scale in the last presidential campaign, and eight years of verbal subterfuge and prevarication under Bill Clinton, Americans are in need of an inspiration from their political past. They have it in the person of our principled and plain-spoken 22nd and 24th president, Grover Cleveland-brought to life in the past year by not one but two laudatory new biographies.An Honest President: The Life and Presidencies of Grover Cleveland by H. Paul Jeffers is an entertaining but barebones account of America's most underrated chief executive. It appeared in early 2000 but was eclipsed a few months later by Alyn Brodsky's superbly written and more thoroughly researched Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character. In admiration for their subject's honesty and candor, both authors prominently cite this characteristic Cleveland remark: "What is the use of being elected or reelected unless you stand for something?" The Jeffers and Brodsky books, appearing as they do in a climate of well-deserved cynicism about the political process and the caliber of today's politicians, will surely rekindle an interest in Cleveland. They may go far in elevating his reputation among historians and citizens alike. In comparison to Grover, most recent aspirants for and occupants of America's highest public office look like rogues and pipsqueaks.The average American today doesn't know much about Grover Cleveland. Among historians, he is rated among the better half and some have even labeled him a "near-great" president. But he didn't fight a war and he didn't shmooze and slither his way through smoky backrooms to political power; nor did he exercise power as if he loved it for its own sake. He did the public's business honestly and frugally and otherwise left us alone. Historians who are deluded into thinking that "greatness" means expanding the frontiers of the coercive state, spawning a school of new meddlesome alphabet agencies, and throwing America's weight around the world don't have much time for titans of limited government like Grover.In so many ways, Cleveland was a political freak even for his day. As Brodsky so capably explains with numerous, vivid examples, he time and again refused to do the politically expedient. The first Democrat in the White House since James Buchanan, he appointed the best people he could find-often earning the wrath of friends and party bigwigs because they didn't get the nod. As Brodsky puts it, "Here, indeed, was that rarest of political animals: one who believed his ultimate allegiance was to the nation, not to the party." Cleveland never lusted for public office but was one of the few presidents who was carried forth on the shoulders of those who admired him for his character. The New York Times, which today endorses charlatans, panderers and statists routinely, endorsed Cleveland for president in 1884 by declaring three reasons for voting for him: "1. He is an honest man. 2. He is an hones

A first rate biography of the only man to win two non-consecutive terms as U. S. president and one who captured the popular vote three consecutive times. Brodsky has struck a good stylistic balance between the readable and the informative, between bringing to an engaging personality to life and rendering an accurate historical narrative. It is the finest Cleveland biography since Allan Nevins' definitive work of nearly seventy years ago. I anxiously await his forthcoming work on Cleveland's wife, Frances, one of the more remarkable first ladies who figures predominantly in the current work.