A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland Paperback – November 14, 2023

One of my favorite reading genres are biographies and includes presidents. I own and have read quite a few presidents which usually are the ones most people know about or are widely known. I was excited to find this biography on a president that most people know very little about including myself. Troy Seine, a former White House speech writer has written this biography of the twenty-second (and twenty-fourth) president. It is not a long exhaustive biography but it does justice to Grover Cleveland. Grover Cleveland, weighing 275 pounds, was an "ordinary" man and this where his greatness came from according to Seine. He served two separate terms and was the "final Democratic president to embrace the classical liberal principles of the party's founder, Thomas Jefferson. Cleveland believed in a narrow interpretation of the Constitution, a limited role for the federal government, and a light touch on economic affairs." (7) Cleveland stands in a unique position in our current times. But one thing is to have such a view and another is to believe it and live it. Cleveland's character never wavered in this belief. He was a man with integrity. Seine, in his masterful Afterword writes, "Virtually everything worth saying about Grover Cleveland boils down to that one elemental fact: he possessed moral courage at almos superhuman level. He was consistently motivated by conviction, even when he he knew he'd suffer political harm as a result." (320) We need more presidents like Grover Cleveland. Why don't we? Seine says that is because of the way that American was founded. Our system allows for "mediocre leadership". "Yet it is," he says, "an impoverished conception of America that imagines that the least we can tolerate is the most which we can aspire." (222)I learned quite some interesting facts about Cleveland. He was a son of a Presbyterian pastor in New Jersey. As a family they kept "the sabbath" and had their own family worship. Unfortunately, his father died at the age of forty-nine. This forced Cleveland to enter the workforce. He went to work as an English teacher at New York institute for the Blind where he met Fanny Crosby, one of my favorite hymnologists of the last century. Slowly, Grover rose to the political arena from assistant DA, to Sheriff of Buffalo, Mayor of Buffalo, and eventually governor of New York. This in turn led him to the presidency as a Democrat who had not won an election in almost 30 years.Grover Cleveland was a workaholic. He worked long hours, often till midnight.He loved drinking beer.He was a bachelor president for the first year in office until he married Frances Folsom who was thirty years younger than him. He was the first to be married on White House grounds at the age of 41.He had cancer surgery on the deck of a hatch named Oneida. Seine's description is funny to say the least.Quotes by Grover Cleveland:"We believe in the principle of economy of the people's money, and that when a man in office lays out a dollar in extravagance, he acts immorally by the people." (46)"A Democratic thief is as bad as a Republican thief." (46)"Parties may be so long in power, and may become so arrogant and careless of the interests of the people, as to grow heedless of their responsibility to their masters. But the time comes, as certainly as death, when the people weigh them in the balance." (88)His last words were said to be, "I have tried so hard to do right" (313).I agree with Senik that Grover Cleveland needs to be recognized and honored as many other presidents. He was indeed "a born statesman who never quite mastered the lower arts of politics." (321)Troy Seine has done as a favor re-introducing "A Man of Iron The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland".

Troy Senik has written an important and interesting book, filled with facts and anecdotes, in economical, dynamic prose. He is unquestionably a talented writer. His subject is an important one: Grover Cleveland, a great man and POTUS, unfortunately lost to the dustbins of History, if not reviled in some quarters.Mr. Senik is a Jeopardy! winner and it shows - the quantity of information and details packed into this fairly short book is astounding, particularly in the footnotes, which give important context and historical background to Cleveland's story.I'd give this book five stars but for two reasons:- Mr. Senik seems to have gone through a list of unusual words which he wanted to use in this book, IMO not always to good effect.- Mr. Senik's grasp of economics seems excellent (I am not an economist) , but his interpretation of Cleveland's legalist and minimalist understanding of the office of POTUS seems slanted, to the point that he criticizes Cleveland for being legalistic and constitutional at the expense of being 'humanitarian', and attributes this to Cleveland's 'inflexibility', missing the point which he himself makes, quite adroitly: Cleveland had a deep seated belief in the principles of limited national government outlined in the US Constitution, and great faith in the ability of the American people to govern themselves, without governmental intrusion.If Cleveland appeared stubborn and inflexible, it was because of his deep seated personal convictions.IMO that is no knock on Grover Cleveland, but a positive attribute.Granted, the American presidency has changed over last century, and today we look for a more active, dynamic POTUS than in Cleveland's time. Arguably that change began with Theodore Roosevelt and his 'bully pulpit', and was greatly expanded by FDR and LBJ, among the most noteworthy. Mr. Senik appears to use the modern presidency as his metric when evaluating Grover Cleveland - a great mistake IMO: Any historical figure must be discussed and evaluated in the context of their own times. Moreover, there are many today who doubt the benefit, and even the constitutionality of the modern presidency. Had Grover Cleveland lived today, he would be among the most vocal of such doubters, IMO.Regardless, read this book - "You just might learn something", or more than just 'something', but a great deal.

"A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland" by Troy Senik offers a richly detailed biography that sheds light on one of America’s most unique and often forgotten presidents. Cleveland, known for his honesty, principles, and straightforward demeanor, stands out as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Senik's engaging narrative captures Cleveland's rapid ascent from an obscure lawyer to the presidency in just three years, revealing a politician who was as complex as he was principled.The biography examines Cleveland’s remarkable political journey, marked by his commitment to limited government even as he expanded presidential power to address significant challenges, including a national depression and labor unrest. Despite his unyielding nature that often strained relations with Congress and his own party, Cleveland’s stubbornness became a defining element of his appeal. Senik highlights the contradictions in Cleveland’s life, from his commitment to integrity to the personal secrets that haunted him. "A Man of Iron" is an entertaining and insightful exploration that not only celebrates Cleveland's legacy but also encourages readers to appreciate the intricacies of his character and the complicated era he navigated, making it a must-read for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the nuances of American governance.