Grover Cleveland — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

The only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms—22nd and 24th—splitting his tenure around a single loss. A fiscal conservative Democrat who fought his own party on silver, angered labor with federal troops, and left office despised even by allies.

Biography

About

Born in New Jersey in 1837, Cleveland rose fast: Buffalo mayor in 1881, New York governor in 1882, where he teamed with Theodore Roosevelt on reform. His crusade against corruption pulled enough Republicans—"Mugwumps"—to narrowly win the presidency in 1884 as the first Democrat since the Civil War. He signed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887, making railroads the first federally regulated industry, and the Dawes Act, which broke up tribal lands and led Native Americans to cede two-thirds of their holdings over the next half-century. He won the popular vote in 1888 but lost the electoral coll…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland

said5 Jul 1888

I have considered the pension list of the republic a roll of honor.

— Veto of Dependent Pension Bill, July 5, 1888

Grover Cleveland

said14 Jul 1886

Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters.

— Message to the heads of departments in the service of the US Government (14 July 1886).

Grover Cleveland

said1 Mar 1886

After an existence of nearly twenty years of almost innocuous desuetude, these laws are brought forth.

— Message to the US Senate on laws constraining the discretionary powers of the President to remove or suspend officials. (1 March 1886).

Grover Cleveland

said4 Mar 1885

Amid the din of party strife the people's choice was made, but its attendant circumstances have demonstrated anew the strength and safety of a government by the people.

— First Inaugural Address (4 March 1885).

Grover Cleveland

said4 Mar 1885