We’re continuing our theme week on Presidential Firsts with the first president to get married in the White House: Grover Cleveland! Cleveland was single when he entered the White House, so his sister joined him and served as hostess for the first two years of his administration. In 1885, the daughter of one his close friends, named Frances Folson, visited him at the White House. She was a college student at the time, and when she returned to Wells College, Cleveland began corresponding with her, and they were soon engaged to be married. They got married on June 2, 1886 in the Blue Room at the White House. Grover was 49, and Francis was 21, making her the youngest First Lady in history.
Grover Cleveland was our 22nd and 24th president – the only President in history to serve 2 non-consecutive terms. In 1871, he was elected Sheriff of Erie County. Part of his job was to carry out executions (or pay a deputy to do it). He executed 2 people during his time as Sheriff. He later became mayor of Buffalo and governor of New York.
During his time in office, Cleveland won praise for his honesty, self-reliance, and integrity. He thought of himself as more of a watchdog over Congress as opposed to an intiator. And in his 2nd term, he seemed overwhelmed by the Panic of 1893 and the ensuing depression, angering his original supporters.
Today, Cleveland is regarded by most historians as a successful leader, and has been praised for his adherence to morals and defying party boundaries. Learn more here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTq7w8P6_2I