Grover Cleveland: A Study in Courage [Hardcover]

Allan Nevins (Author)

Book Description

Series: American political leaders | Publication Date: January 1, 1932

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

Product Details

• Hardcover: 832 pages
• Publisher: Dodd, Mead; 1ST edition (January 1, 1932)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0006AO0FA
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,030,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic biography of a Gilded Age president, November 10, 2004

By 

Mark Klobas (Tempe, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Grover Cleveland: A Study in Courage (Hardcover)

Though a dominant figure in Gilded Age politics, Grover Cleveland is remembered today primarily as a figure of historical trivia for being the only American president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Such a relegation diminishes his achievements and ignores his role in American history, one that was illuminated by Allan Nevins in his biography of the president.

Born in 1837 to an impoverished Presbyterian minister and his wife, Grover Cleveland worked his way through school as a clerk and teacher before being admitted to the bar in Buffalo in 1859. While building a successful practice he served in a number of local offices, rising to become mayor in 1881. Corruption at the state level brought about a call for reform, and Cleveland was seen as the man to answer it. Elected governor in 1882, he ran an administration noted for both its honesty and efficiency. Over the opposition of Tammany Hall he was selected as the Democratic presidential nominee in 1884 and defeated James G. Blaine in the subsequent election.

Cleveland's first administration was noted for his efforts to enlarge the civil service and thwarting attempts by veterans to raid the Treasury for greater pension benefits. Defeated by Benjamin Harrison in 1888 despite winning the popular vote, he won reelection four years later in a rematch between the two men. Cleveland's second term was marred by an economic depression and political battles over the currency, as well as a series of labor troubles. Cleveland's laissez-faire approach to the economic problems and his administration's support for the Pullman Company in their conflict with strikers (which Nevins blames on Cleveland's attorney general rather than the president) alienated many Americans, and he was repudiated by his party at the 1896 Democratic convention.

Though Nevins exaggerates Cleveland's virtues and minimizes his limitations, this is the best biography of the president. Based on the Cleveland papers (which Nevins edited), it provides a stimulating, well-written portrait of the man and his times that rewards reading today.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing book, August 26, 2011

By 

Schmerguls "schmerguls" (Sioux City, Ia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Grover Cleveland A study in courage (Hardcover)

This review is from: Grover Cleveland A study in courage (Hardcover)
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. 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."