President Grover Cleveland Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

President Grover Cleveland - Research Paper Example He was also nick named as Uncle Jumbo. His commitment towards truth and honesty can be witnessed in his famous words; â€Å"To be president, you should have honesty. Honesty is always telling the truth. Do you tell the truth? Above all tell the truth† (American President – Grover Cleveland). Cleveland has contributed heavily to American politics and social life. This paper analyses Cleveland’s life and his contributions to American politics and society. Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey. He grew up in New York. He started attending school at the age of 11. When his father died in 1853, Cleveland left school to work and support his family. He moved in 1855 to live and work with his Uncle in Buffalo, New York. He studied law in Buffalo and was admitted to the bar in 1859 (Kelly) Cleveland got married only after he became the twenty second president of America. Probably, he is the only president in the history of America who got married as a president of America. He was 49 at the time of his marriage and his wife Frances Folsom was only 21 at that time. He had five children (three daughters and two sons) in this relationship; however he was alleged to have another child in a premarital relationship. During the Civil War he had hired a substitute when drafted into the army. This was perfectly legal but certainly a disadvantage at a time when most successful northern politicians made much of their military achievements in defense of the Union. More serious still, Cleveland was the father of an illegitimate child. He had provided for the support of the child, but in those Victorian times knowledge of his transgression, should it become widely known, seemed sure to cost him heavily at the polls. Yet three years later he was elected president of the United States (Garraty) The election of Cleveland as America’s president is still mysterious to many people. Cleveland never possessed the normal qualities required for getting the candidature of Democratic Party. He was not much educated and had some illegal relationships while he was selected as the Democratic Marty candidate for presidential election. Military service was compulsory in American military; however he escaped from that using by drafting a substitute into the military. In short, none of his personal, academic or professional achievements or qualities were popular; yet he succeeded in winning the president election purely because of his anti-corruption stands and some other popular opinions he expressed on various issues. Cleveland started his political life during the latter half of nineteenth century after the completion of his law studies. He has gained immense publicity because of his anti-corruption stands since corruption was widespread in American political and social life circuits. He has taken Democratic Party membership and won the mayor election of Buffalo in 1882. Later, (during the period 1883-1885) he became the govern or of New York. He has caught the attention of the people not because of his fight against corruption alone; but because of his stands against tariffs, inflation, imperialism etc. He has demanded political and economic reforms in America which made him the real hero of American politics during the latter part of nineteenth century. Cleveland's phenomenal political rise was not entirely due to his honesty and courage, which were considerable. His unusual success was possible because the American people had become