Grover Cleveland: A Study in Courage. Volumes I and II. Library of the Presidents Series in Full Leather

444. Grover Cleveland: A Study in Courage, by Allan Nevins (read 20 Sep 1952) (Pulitzer Biography prize for 1933) I read this book in September 1952 and on Sept 13 said of it: "Am reading a Grover Cleveland biography which makes very good reading even though about things like the tariff, Civil War pensions, and the silver issue. I am enjoying the book thoroughly." On Sept 14 I said: "Book on Cleveland continues absorbing. Just finished the account of the fight to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. Congress was called into special session on Aug 7, 1893. The greatest speeches in the House were made by Wm. L. Wilson of West Virginia, Bourke Cockran of N. Y., and Thomas B. Reed of Maine for repeal and W. J. Bryan of Neb. against it. show more Repeal won by 13 votes. In the Senate the silver forces filibustered long, Senators Jones and
Stewart of NV. being willing to go on endlessly. Senate tempers grew very sharp. Cleveland refused a compromise and finally on Oct 20 the Senate passed the repeal bill. Nevins, of course, has nothing but praise for Cleveland's course, but I wonder if a non-biased view would also be that his stand was one of principle rather than of a subservience to the moneyed interests. All the rebel in me urges me to agree with the silver men. Radicalism has, in this case, all the seeming, emotional right on its side." On Sept 15 I said: "Book on Cleveland continues great. His effort to change the tariff in 1893-1894 was riddled when eight Democratic Senators refused to follow him. Compromise followed. Accounts of debates in Congress make me feel something is irretrievably lost to me--I want to revel in study of the personalities of the Congress of that era." I was struck by and copied the following from Page 590 of the book: "Probably never before or since in American history have the times been so completely out of joint for so many millions of producers. By hundreds of thousands farmers had sweated in heat and cold, in hope and fear, and then had seen the sheriff come striding across their dooryard. They had turned in bitterness from wheat fields devoured by chinch bugs or grasshoppers, had watched the short-grass parch under sirocco winds while empty clouds drifted mockingly across the skies; had lifted the tailboards and dumped their grain on the streets rather than take the elevator prices; had gathered in menacing clumps as neighbor after neighbor was sold out at auction. From thin Kansas houses they had watched the furious blizzard which froze their cattle to death, and listened to the icy wind whine across the plains to cut the vitality from their huddling children. In southern cabins they had tossed thru hot nights sick with worry, and risen to stare out at shriveled cotton not worth the picking. There was no sugar on the table, no money to put the son in high school, no books or magazines. they creaked to town..." On Sep 20 I said: "Finished Nevins' book on Cleveland. The book is very favorable to Cleveland, though not a whitewash. I enjoyed the book greatly." show less

This book is well-written and very informative. I really learned a lot from this book especially as Grover Cleveland is not really as well known as other U.S. Presidents. This book is complete with all the details you could ask for in a presidential biography, from his background as an up and coming lawyer to the major domestic and foreign policy decisions he has to make as a President. I would admit that this book would have been even better if it has been updated but not once did i feel that it is lacking in anyway just because of its age. In other words, I would have wanted comparisons of Cleveland's policies with Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan (not just with W. Wilson and TR) but I still think that even without it is still complete show more and helpful. My only reason for not giving 5 stars is that the author often chooses to pass the blame on Cleveland's subordinates and enemies rather than on Cleveland himself for Cleveland's lackluster presidency as well as the wrong decisions that Cleveland made during his time in office. show less

Excellent bio of Cleveland. Very interesting and a good read.