Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are rallying behind President Joe Biden in his reelection campaign, signaling an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to counter the potential threat of former President Donald Trump. Trump, however, lacks a similar support system from Republican predecessors, with George W. Bush being the only other living Republican who has occupied the Oval Office.
Trump often draws comparisons to Abraham Lincoln, but a more apt comparison might be Grover Cleveland, the only other president who won, lost, and was nominated again by his party for a third straight time. Despite their shared experiences, Trump and Cleveland are vastly different characters, as revealed in a conversation with Troy Senik, author of “A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland.”
Trump and Cleveland: A Comparative Analysis
Trump and Cleveland are the only two US presidents to be nominated by their party after defeat. Beyond this, their similarities are few and far between. Both were political outsiders and shared a distaste for the press. Cleveland, like Trump, ran on a version of “drain the swamp,” focusing on reforming the civil service to prioritize merit over political connections.
While Trump is running for “retribution,” Cleveland had no initial plans for a comeback. His third run was motivated by a split within the Democratic Party, with Cleveland aiming to prevent the party from veering away from his conservative, limited-government approach.
Cleveland in Today’s Political Landscape
Cleveland’s success in an era of party delegates picking presidential candidates raises the question of his potential success in today’s primary voter-driven landscape. The answer is complex. Cleveland’s first term, marked by his reputation for integrity, could potentially resonate with today’s electorate. However, his second term, which appealed more to Democratic elites than the rank and file, might not fare as well in the current climate of growing populism.
Trump and Cleveland: Polar Opposites?
Despite their shared experiences, Trump and Cleveland are fundamentally different. Trump is a populist, while Cleveland regarded populism as preying on the worst instincts of the American people. Trump supports higher tariffs; Cleveland fought to lower them. Trump has a hard line on immigration; Cleveland vetoed a bill prohibiting immigration by the illiterate. In terms of ideology, temperament, and conduct in office, the two presidents could not be more different.
Scandal and the Presidency
Cleveland weathered significant scandal during his presidency, including an affair that produced a child and a marriage to a much younger woman who had been his ward. However, the popular understanding of these events often distorts the facts. Cleveland’s handling of these scandals, marked by his willingness to face criticism rather than litigate the particulars, solidified his reputation as a man of principle.
Was Cleveland a Good President?
As a presidential historian, Senik refrains from passing judgment on either Trump or Biden, noting that a sober conclusion about a president’s legacy often requires decades to pass. As for Cleveland, he was one of the most principled, incorruptible men to ever hold the office, consistently prioritizing the country’s best interest over his political advantage. However, this same sense of principle also made him stubborn and inflexible, leading to numerous political defeats.