I recently wrapped up the Gilded Age in my high school AP US History classes. For a couple of weeks, we had discussed the strength of the titans of industry (including Carnegie and Rockefeller), corruption in the government, unsanitary conditions of inner-city tenements, and daily life of those who labored for many hours in the factories yet consistently found themselves in debt. I enjoy teaching about the characters that inhabited the White House during these decades since the presidents reflected the emotions, identities, and personalities of America in their era (as scholars have recognized, the tone of a presidential administration mirrors the anxiety and hopefulness of their electorate). Today, I intend to describe Mr. Grover Cleveland's role in the Gilded Age as well as his fine ability to connect to voters in a tremendously politically-divided time in America's history.
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| Grover Cleveland (D), the tubby politician from New York who would later become our 22nd and 24th president. Photograph by Britannica.com. |
Grover Cleveland was an unusual victor in a presidential race in late 1884. Foremost, he was a Democrat, the first standard-bearer of his party to be elected to the White House since 1856, prior to the Civil War. His political views did not align with a majority of the electorate (Republican strongholds dominated the voting patterns in the Gilded Age). Also, Cleveland was barely known outside of New York, a state he had called "home" for many years - Cleveland's previous elected offices included mayor of Buffalo and the governorship. Nevertheless, voters, eager to clean up the corruption in government, sent the middle-aged, tubby bachelor to the District of Columbia. Our 22nd president enjoyed marginal success in his first term, challenging the political power of the railroads by creating the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1887, ensuring the continuation of the Gold Standard by opposing any use of silver for money, and reaffirming liberal stances in the Judiciary by appointing two well- qualified, distinguished judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, Lucius Q.C. Lamar and Melville Fuller (who served as the Chief Justice between 1888 and 1910). Cleveland's most notable event during his first administration did not involve politics... but love! The 49-year-old married the 21-year-old daughter of a family friend, Frances Folsom in a private ceremony at the White House. The couple had five children; their eldest, Ruth is the namesake of the "Baby Ruth" candy bar, a delectable treat from the Curtiss Candy Company. Frances had a warm personality and became an immensely-popular first lady, bringing style and heart to the executive mansion that was previously incredibly dull.
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| Frances Folsom was a student at Wells College in New York when Cleveland began writing her letters. The couple married at the White House in a private ceremony on June 2, 1886. At 21-years-old, she was our nation's youngest first lady. Photograph by Firstladies.org. |
In the summer of 1887, President Cleveland began to consider a re-election campaign. Previously, our top leaders followed a "dignified" campaign strategy, which involved greeting/shaking electors' hands on the candidate's front porch. Cleveland, willing to meet at common ground with Republican voters, proposed a grand tour of the West via railroad, where he and the first lady would take an active campaign approach. The president discussed the bold idea with his most-trustworthy "chief of staff" Colonel Daniel Lamont. Lamont had initial concerns about the 5,000 railroad cross-country tour - after the 1881 assassination of President James Garfield, many politicians and advisors became disturbed about the safety and welfare of the president. After much consideration, Lamont permitted Cleveland to embark on his "Goodwill" tour. The president enlisted the help from George Pullman, a renowned businessman, to locate a train. Since he labeled himself as a reform president, Cleveland would pay the costs from the national trip. Pullman found a train with two large railroad cars - one held a smoker, barber shop, and bathroom, while the other car had 10 open-section sleeping berths, luxury smoking room, and buffet. The cars' interior furniture was vibrant blue and copper-colored. Prior to departure, Pullman verified the railroad cars' exterior had fresh paint and gold striping (a striking train car fit for a president!).
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| This is the front cover of the Harper's Weekly Magazine that was published on October 8, 1887. The magazine sold for ten cents a copy. After departing the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station in Washington D.C., the president and his wife sat in the comfortable chairs in one of the train cars, reading the newspaper and admiring the countryside views outside the window. Photograph by Whitehousehistory.org. |
President Cleveland and his wife (who wore a stunning brown silk dress with red trimming, according to the local newspaper) departed from D.C. on September 30, 1887, with six male guests. The party was also accompanied by Arthur Wells, Cleveland's steward, and a gentleman named Tobias, a favorite cook of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The train snaked through the cities of York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg; large crowds flocked to catch a glimpse of the first couple. Frances gently waved while the president bowed his head at the delightful masses. When the train passed by Indianapolis, 1,000 wishers (who had waited for hours to meet the president) remained very quiet when told that the couple were still asleep. Yet, the excited crowd did not have to wait for long... the president shook hands with more than 20,000 citizens and briefly expressed his happiness at the area's beauty, richness of soil, and industry of citizens the next day at Indiana's state capital building. At the next stop of the Goodwill Tour, St. Louis, Cleveland and Francis were warmly welcomed by a brilliantly-lit bridge across the Mississippi River and a glorious fanfare led by Mayor David R. Francis. After a pleasant night-stay at the Lindell Hotel, 24,000 schoolchildren sang beautiful choruses, bringing the president to tears. The first lady was presented with a floral shield, which would later be hung in the White House private quarters.
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| During the 1887 Goodwill Tour, Cleveland and Frances observed the illumination of the Bricker Natural Gas Well in Grapeville near Pittsburg, PA. Harper's Weekly depicts the event above. Photograph by Whitehousehistory.org. |
In Chicago, the party saw a production at the Columbia Theater and paid respects to those who had died during the "anarchist" bombing at Haymarket Riot in the previous year. Afterwards, the train traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, where the presidential party was housed by William F. Vilas, the postmaster general. Cleveland's right hand was aching so he kept his hands behind his back during scheduled meet-and-greets and happily bowed his head instead. In Nebraska, the couple stopped at Omaha and several smaller towns, where these rural citizens had never seen such celebrities (this was Cleveland's attempt to connect with the "other side of America"). The president also lay a cornerstone for a new YMCA in Kansas City. One of the final stops of the Goodwill Tour was Nashville. The Cleveland's paid a former White House occupant a visit: Sarah Childress Polk, the widow of former President James Polk (in office, 1845-1849). The spirited 84-year-old enjoyed talking about the "old times" in the executive mansion. After the train had passed by the smaller towns and fields in Georgia and the Carolinas, the presidential party arrived back in D.C., 23 days later. The 1887 Goodwill Tour was a great success; the American public (despite differing political views) had overwhelming enthusiasm and support for the first couple. The excursion also showed scholars that Grover Cleveland had stamina (and contrary to the reports of a "lazy, unpopular occupant in the White House") and tugged at the citizens' heart strings. Although Cleveland's trip confirmed the mutual affection between president and the masses, our 22nd president lost the 1888 election. Benjamin Harrison, grandson of the short-lived 9th president William Henry Harrison (who died 30 days into office), was backed by big money and won the electoral college; Cleveland claimed the popular vote. Harrison scored 233 votes and Cleveland secured 168 votes (201 electoral votes were needed to win in 1888). The Republicans snatched the White House reins for four years.
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| This Harper's Weekly image depicts the Cleveland's stay in St. Louis, where the first couple were treated to a decorative parade. There was much spirit and enthusiasm in the crowd that night! Photograph by Whitehousehistory.org. |
With his head held high and holding back the tears, Cleveland vowed to win re-election after Harrison's first stint in the White House. Frances reportedly told the mansion's staff to not touch any of the furniture items because she and her husband would return... four years later, Grover Cleveland strolled back into the presidential role he was most familiar with, riding on a massive blue wave of jubilance and prosperity (the only president to-date to serve two non-consecutive terms). Regardless of Cleveland's lackluster second term (which involved an economic panic in 1893), the New York tubby politician and his 1887 Goodwill Tour showed scholars that he was one of the few Gilded Age leaders to be very much in touch with the public at the end of the nineteenth century.
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| Two images printed in the Harper's Weekly Magazine that followed Cleveland's 1887 Goodwill Tour. The top image depicts the Cleveland's visiting Mrs. Polk in Nashville, TN, while the bottom image shows the president viewing deer at Belle Meade Park. Photograph by Whitehousehistory.org. |
More Information on the 1887 Goodwill Tour:
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/president-grover-clevelands-goodwill-tour-of-1887
