Grover Cleveland Facts – Everything You Need to Know
Grover Cleveland was the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey.
Cleveland was the second of nine children in his family.
He was known for his honesty and integrity, earning the nickname Honest Grover.
Cleveland was the first Democrat elected to the presidency after the Civil War.
He was responsible for the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act, which regulated railroad rates.
Cleveland was passionate about civil service reform and fought against corruption in government.
He vetoed over 400 bills during his time in office, earning him the nickname Veto President.
Cleveland married Frances Folsom, who was 27 years younger than him, making him the only president to get married in the White House.
He was the first president to have a child born in the White House.
Cleveland was known for his love of fishing and spent many leisure hours fishing in the Potomac River.
He was also an avid reader and had a personal library of over 1,200 books.
Cleveland was the first president to have his image printed on a postage stamp.
He is the only president to serve as an executioner, having personally hanged two criminals while serving as the sheriff of Erie County.
Cleveland was known for his simple lifestyle and preferred simple, home-cooked meals over elaborate banquets.
He was the only president to serve as the mayor of a major city before becoming president.
Grover Cleveland Facts – Everything You Need to Know part 2
Cleveland suffered from a rare type of mouth cancer and had a secret operation to remove a tumor from his mouth while in office.
He had a fondness for cigars and was frequently photographed with one in his mouth.
Cleveland was the first president to have a telephone installed in the White House.
Despite being a Democrat, Cleveland had many Republican friends and was known for his bipartisan approach to governance.
He was the only president to serve as the governor of two different states, New York and New Jersey.
Cleveland is the only president to have a street named after him in London, England.
He was the second president to get married while in office, after John Tyler.
Cleveland was committed to preserving the environment and created the first national forest reserves.
He was a strong advocate for the gold standard and vetoed a bill that would have increased silver coinage.
Cleveland was an average student in school but excelled in mathematics.
He had a strong loyalty to his hometown of Buffalo, New York, and was often seen wearing a hat with Buffalo embroidered on it.
Cleveland was the first president to have a child with a disability, his daughter Esther, who was born with a learning disability.
He was an ardent supporter of the temperance movement and abstained from alcohol throughout his life.
Cleveland was the first president to visit the Hawaiian Islands while in office.
He signed the Dawes Act, which aimed to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American society.
Cleveland was known for his frugality and refused to use public funds for personal expenses.
He was the only president to have a wild animal as a pet – a mockingbird named Dick that he kept in the White House.
Cleveland was a strong advocate for the rights of African Americans and appointed the most African Americans to federal positions than any previous president.
He was a fan of baseball and frequently attended games, often throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
Cleveland believed in limiting the power of big corporations and was responsible for breaking up several monopolies.
His nickname Big Steve came from his large stature and commanding presence.
He was the only president to serve as an executioner for his own crimes.
Cleveland was a skilled painter and enjoyed spending his free time creating artwork.
He was the first president to have a Secret Service detail for his personal protection.
Cleveland was a strong advocate for a balanced budget and was the only president to leave office with a surplus.
He is the only president to have his wedding ceremony conducted in the White House.
Cleveland was the first president to have electric lighting installed in the White House.
He is the only president to have been married in a White House ceremony.
Cleveland’s final words were reportedly, I have tried so hard to do right.