Grover Cleveland, A Study in Courage

Grover Cleveland was regarded as one of the greatest presidents ever in his day, but was nearly forgotten except by professional historians and students of history until the current president came along which invites comparisons. One comparison is the current president is 23 years older than his wife. However, Grover Cleveland married a girl, Frances Folsom, aged 20, who was 28 years younger, while he was president, even though he was administrator of her father's estate. This scandal may have caused him to lose the presidential election in 1888. Actually, he won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote, similar to the current situation. He then regained the presidency through the 1892 elections. Grover Cleveland's presidency is known for two unconnected terms from 1885 to 1889 and then from 1893 to 1897 making him both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.