Grover Cleveland: From County Sheriff to President of the United States
By Michael Pliszka
Can a local county Sheriff emerge from the political venue of a region to
become President of the United States? Even if this man had gone against the grain at times in addressing political corruption? The answer is yes. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, being the only president to be reelected after defeat. Prior to his presidency, he had also occupied the office of Governor of New York, Mayor of the City of Buffalo, and Sheriff of the Erie County Sheriff's Office, which is located in Buffalo, New York. A quite interesting career ladder.
The Early Years
Grover Cleveland was born in New Jersey in 1837. In 1854, he traveled to Buffalo to visit an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, who was a man of influence in the Buffalo area. Cleveland's intention was to travel on to Cleveland, Ohio. However, Buffalo was the tenth largest city in the country, and appeared to offer a young man greater opportunity. Many notable citizens lived in the area, among them President Millard Fillmore, who had left office two years earlier, and returned to live in Buffalo. Ultimately, Cleveland attended law school in Buffalo, and he was admitted to the bar in 1859. Through the assistance of his uncle, he was able to benefit professionally and socially by meeting many of the area's influential people, particularly those associated with the legal profession. 1
Political Views
A year earlier, in 1858, Cleveland cast his first vote as a Democrat, in a time where politics was often conducted in saloons as well as offices downtown. He was attuned to this arena, as it is known that the future Sheriff, and President, was a robust man who enjoyed his beer, food, conversation, and poker. At that time, some of the more wealthy citizens openly complained about the poverty and the prostitution activity in the city's rough waterfront district. In a contradiction, some of the same people gained financial benefit by collecting rents from brothels and blighted property owned in that same waterfront area. They largely controlled commerce in an apparent corrupt fashion. Cleveland openly expressed his views concerning the plight of the waterfront district, and the elements of political corruption. It was said that he was involved in a public fistfight or two over these very issues. 2
Having entered the world of politics, Cleveland was appointed Assistant District Attorney of Erie County in 1863. The District Attorney had only one assistant, and through his work, Cleveland gained professional growth and became further known to the public. It is said that he gained the habit of working late into the night, a habit he continued through his professional life. The following year, the Democrats chose him to run as their candidate for District Attorney of Erie County. Lyman K. Bass, his Republican opponent, defeated him in that election. It is interesting to note that Bass was also a friend of Cleveland, and subsequently they became partners in one of the most influential law firms in the Buffalo area.
Sheriff Cleveland
In 1870, Cleveland had become a popular area figure. He was nominated by the Democrats to run for the office of Sheriff. The campaign was successful, and he was sworn in as Erie County Sheriff in 1871. At that time, it was a somewhat different for an attorney to assume the duties of Sheriff. While it is true that Cleveland wished to address the issues of corruption, he was also known to be motivated to seek the office as a better paying job, and one that he felt would afford him the time to further pursue his studies and leisure activities . 3 It appears that his view concerning the pace of the office in that era is a noted difference from the Sheriff's role today in the year 2000.
Sheriff Cleveland personally looked into the quality of items purchased for his department. For example, a contractor who provided the wood for the jail reported the delivery of the usual one hundred cords. The Sheriff took up his tape measure, removed the crooked sticks, and discovered that the pile measured only eighty cords. He then ordered that the difference be made up. In another example, the Sheriff discovered that the miller who delivered flour for the jail had provided poor quality product. He discarded the flour and insisted on better quality be baked into the bread for the prisoners. The prisoners had a hard enough time, was his announcement, and he directed that they not be cheated in the quality or quantity of the food furnished by his department. 4
Sheriff Cleveland often delegated the routine duties of the office to his diligent Undersheriff W.L.G. Smith. The Sheriff could go out hunting or fishing, as he enjoyed, and confidently leave the Undersheriff in control of the office. However, as noted by biographer Charles H. Armitage, Sheriff Cleveland shirked none of his official responsibilities. Receiving the nickname, "Buffalo's Hangman", when it became his duty to hang a man, Sheriff Cleveland refused to delegate this task and completed the hanging. In 1872, he personally sprung the trap on two men, Patrick Morrissey, convicted of stabbing his mother to death, and Jack Gaffney, a well-known gambler who had been found guilty of shooting a man over a card game. 5 The jail-yard gallows were located on Washington and Batavia streets, which is now the site of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.
Upon completion of his term as Sheriff, Cleveland returned to his law practice in Buffalo. Many predicted that he was through in politics, as he had been regarded as too much of a non-partisan Sheriff, frequently clashing with the old line Democrats.
Beyond the Office of Sheriff
As it turned out, this Sheriff was not through, and in 1881, Cleveland was elected Mayor of Buffalo, and a year later became the Governor of New York State. He was recognized for his stance against corruption, and credited with the slogan, "public office is public trust." He then became the Democratic nominee, and was elected the 22nd President of the United States in 1885. Having been unsuccessful in his presidential reelection bid in 1888, Cleveland reemerged successfully in his third campaign in 1892, making him the only President in history to be reelected after a prior defeat. Throughout his tenure he was known for his independence and controversy in his cabinet appointments, often again at odds with his political party. He eventually retired to his home in New Jersey where he subsequently died in 1908.
Conclusion
Grover Cleveland was an attorney who became a Sheriff, Mayor, Governor, and on two separate occasions, President of the United States. He was a person known for his hard work rather than brilliant legal talent, and at times was referred to as a man of destiny. He often struggled with the political elements associated with his position. Perhaps we all can reflect upon his philosophy as we mold our careers and face the future, as it is said that his last words were, "I've tried so hard to do right." 6
Footnotes:
1 Life and Public Services of Hon. Grover Cleveland, William Dorsheimer, Hubbard Brothers Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, 1884, 24-32
2 Buffalo Scrapbook Grover Cleveland Collection, Special Collections Department, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.
3 Recollections of Grover Cleveland, George F. Parker, A.M., L.L.D., The new Century Company, 1909.
4 Buffalo Scrapbook Grover Cleveland Collection, Special Collections Department, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
5 Grover Cleveland as Buffalo Knew Him, Charles H. Armitage, Published by the Buffalo Evening news, 1926, pg. 58.
6 Grover Cleveland, Encarta Encyclopedia, Microsoft Network.
Back to Top
References
Buffalo Scrapbook Grover Cleveland Collection, Special Collections Department, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.
Grover Cleveland as Buffalo Knew Him, Charles H. Armitage, Published by the Buffalo Evening News, 1926.
Grover Cleveland, Encarta Encyclopedia, Microsoft Network.
Life and Public Services of Hon. Grover Cleveland, William. Dorsheimer, Hubbard Brother publishers, Philadelphia, P.A., copyright according to Act of Congress by Alfred Hamilton, 1884.
Recollections of Grover Cleveland, George F. Parker, A.M., L.L.D., The New Century Company, 1909.
Grover Cleveland, The Buffalo Scrapbook, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
Back to History Page
