THE OTHER TWO-TERM POTUS NOT SERIALLY ELECTED: 5/8: A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency o1 Grover Cleveland Hardcover – by Troy Senik (Author)
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
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🗓️ 11 November 2024
⏱️ 12 minutes
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Summary
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Iron-Turbulent-Improbable-Presidency/dp/1982140747?ref_=ast_author_dp#customerReviews
Grover Cleveland’s political career—a dizzying journey that saw him rise from obscure lawyer to president of the United States in just three years—was marked by contradictions. A politician of uncharacteristic honesty and principle, he was nevertheless dogged by secrets from his personal life. A believer in limited government, he pushed presidential power to its limits to combat a crippling depression, suppress labor unrest, and resist the forces of American imperialism. A headstrong executive who alienated Congress, political bosses, and even his own party, his stubbornness nevertheless became the key to his political appeal. The most successful Democratic politician of his era, he came to be remembered most fondly by Republicans.
1888
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is CBS Eye on the World. |
| 0:08.5 | Here's John Batchelor. |
| 0:11.0 | I'm John Batchel. |
| 0:12.3 | Continuing with Troy Seneca, the author of the new book, |
| 0:16.3 | A Man of Iron, the Turbulent Life and Improbable Pres presidency of Grover Cleveland. It is 1892. The election |
| 0:25.9 | at the end of the year calls forth candidates from both parties. Benjamin Harrison is a sitting |
| 0:32.0 | president, but that doesn't make him exempt from being challenged by his side. There's a man named Blaine, James G. Blaine, third congressional district of Maine, then |
| 0:43.0 | becomes Speaker of the House, then become Senator of Maine, then become Senator from the |
| 0:47.2 | railroads, a man whom Grover Cleveland defeated in 1892, 1884, the first run for the presidency, there's a |
| 0:59.2 | colorful story about a pastor named Burchard, a Presbyterian pastor, just like Grover |
| 1:06.0 | Cleveland's dad, who makes a remark rum Romanism and rebellion to condemn the Democratic Party right before the election. |
| 1:13.7 | That may or may not have persuaded enough votes, who can tell. |
| 1:17.1 | But in any event, James D. Blaine is all wrapped up and being defeated in 84. |
| 1:22.3 | And nobody believes him that he's not running again in 92. |
| 1:26.2 | I mentioned Blaine because he represents the era, the |
| 1:29.8 | gilded age. And Troy, your book is a wonderful antidote to the gilded age because we can celebrate |
| 1:37.2 | what you'd have to say as unregulated capitalism. Yes. But at the same time, the public |
| 1:43.2 | wanted someone to challenge these men growing rich. |
| 1:47.9 | And what you identify is the widening gap between the employers and the employed. |
| 1:54.2 | So as Cleveland thought about the presidency in 92, as people made entreaties to him, will you run again, Mr. President? |
| 2:03.2 | What did he make of Blaine, of the Gilded Age, of Jay Gould, of the man who will be Morgan, |
| 2:09.9 | all of the rich men? What was his opinion? |
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