Background
Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey on March 18, 1837. Unlike John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and most of Americas past presidents, Cleveland was born into an impoverished family. He worked in New York with his brother to support their family, was a clerk, and a part-time law student. This lifestyle facilitated his profound dislike towards government spending. Although he never went to college, Cleveland was able to pass the bar examination in 1858 and start his own law firm in 1862. In 1870 Cleveland was elected sheriff of Erie County, New York. He kept that position for three years until he returned to practicing law. In 1881 Cleveland was opted by the Buffalo City Democratic Committee to run for mayor. He won. In one year, Cleveland unearthed extortion in the city's municipal services, rejected multiple pork-barrel appropriations, and had such a set belief in hard work and efficiency that he impressed the Democratic Party. His reputation allowed him to run as the Democratic candidate for governor of New York. After Cleveland became governor in 1883 he vetoed eight bills within his first two months of office because he was against unnecessary government spending. He also went head to head against Tammy Hall, a powerful political machine. The Democrats soon regarded him as a pragmatic reformer who was presidential material.
Presidency
Even after becoming president Cleveland hated government spending and used the veto profusely. He turned away hundreds of veterans' pension bills because he believed them to be frauds. When it came to foreign policy, Cleveland was a complete interventionist. He tried to reduce tariffs but had little success since his leadership skills were, in this case, quite sub-par. When it came to race, Cleveland agreed with the white southerners' hesitancy to treat African Americans as equals. He was against integrating schools in New York and saw African Americans as inferior. Cleveland was neutral on the issue of women's suffrage. He spoke neither for nor against it. The tariff issue came back to bite Cleveland in the butt during the presidential election of 1888. Voters in the industrial states of the Northeast thought they would lose their jobs if the tariffs lowered any further. Cleveland was elected for president again in 1892, becoming the first and only president to serve for two non-consecutive terms. He won this time mainly because Tammy Hall decided to back him and voters had changed their minds about wanting high tariffs. The universe decided to welcome him back by throwing the country into the worst financial crisis they had ever seen. The Panic of 1893 started with a railroad bankruptcy, then a bunch of banks failed, there was a nationwide credit crisis, the stock market crashed, and three more railroads failed. The unemployment rate reached 18 percent by 1894. So, what did Cleveland do about it? Instead of sponsoring work projects (because government spending) he repealed the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890 because he thought it was the source of the nations's financial crisis. The Purchase Act required the Treasury to buy 4.5 million ounces of silver a month to be coined as silver dollars. Since they were buying more silver than gold it raised the price of gold. After the Act was repealed the Treasury had to cash in all their silver to fill their gold reserves. Cleveland had to turn to investment banker JP Morgan to support his four new government bonds. The people were outraged that Cleveland was more concerned with fixing his own messes, than giving them direct relief. This made the Democrats extremely unpopular. If a Democrat tried to run for anything all the voters could see was Cleveland and the awful way he handled the depression. Cleveland's popularity continued to decline because of his inconsistent social views, and they way he used federal troops to put a stop to the Pullman railroad strike in 1894.
Legacy
Grover Cleveland is mostly criticized for his interventionism and having no grand plan for the country. Because of his lack of college education, it left him ignorant of what America had evolved from and what it was trying to become. Cleveland was an honest and hardworking president, but these are characteristics of a small town mayor, perhaps, and indispensable traits for a President in times of political extortion—but not a foundation for greatness in an era of crippling economic depression, populist insurrection, and increasing importance on the development of America. He simply did not know what his country needed, and they suffered because of it. His response to the Panic of 1893 tore apart the Democrats' reputation so badly it contributed to their defeat in 1896. He is living proof that in order for out country to move forward, we need a president with new ideas and a goal he/she wants to work towards. Otherwise, what's the point?
Works Cited
"Miller Center." Grover Cleveland: Life Before the Presidency. Web. 19. Jan. 2016.
"Miller Center." Grover Cleveland: Domestic Affairs. Web. 19. Jan. 2016.
"Miller Center." Grover Cleveland: Impact and Legacy-. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"Grover Cleveland." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"Miller Center." Grover Cleveland: Domestic Affairs. Web. 19. Jan. 2016.
"Miller Center." Grover Cleveland: Impact and Legacy-. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.
"Grover Cleveland." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 19 Jan. 2016.