An Honest President: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: Just what it was intended to be
Review: This book is an excellent reading opportunity about the first man in American history to win the popular vote in three straight elections. It isn't a tour de force, and policy wonks won't be satisfied--each presidency is covered in 50 pages--but it does capture the essence of the person and his times in an enjoyable, readable format. It is educational and nonjudgmental, and actually contains surprising parallels to the contemporary times.

Rating:
Summary: Solid Intro to The Life and Presidencies of Grover Cleveland
Review: This book provides a good overview of the career of Grover Cleveland from his Mayoral days in Buffalo to his days in the Whitehouse. Of particular interest to me was the relationship that Grover Cleveland had with TR. They had a genuine respect and spirit of bipartisanship with each other, except for the Presidential elections. Apparently TR did not want to ruin his future in the Republican party despite his dissatisfaction with the Republican candidate in the first election. The mugwumps were enough to guide Cleveland into the Whitehouse.
Another notion that comes out of the way Cleveland carried himself is his honesty, not to be confused with high morals. He committed to get things done for the electorate and did so, yet made no false claims about high moral standards, which he may or may not have had.
A final point is that it could be concluded that Cleveland strengthened the Office of the Presidency, by weeding out corruption and political patronage that had run rampant through prior administrations. This may have set the stage for the strong presidents to come such as TR, WW, and FDR.
In summation, this book provides a great deal of general information that is easy to understand. The reader will come away with the ability to draw some conclusions about Cleveland's place in U.S. History and how he interacted with his comtemporaries, but by no means be able obtain details about policies.

Rating:
Summary: What We Need Now
Review: This work by H. Paul Jeffers is one of two recent accounts of Grover Cleveland's spectacular life. President Cleveland was the only elected Democrat between the Civil War and the first World War. He was a conservative in that he advocated fiscal responsibility, but was a liberal in that he advocated reform. He worked hand in hand with Republican reformers like Theodore Roosevelt who wanted clean government regardless of the political costs. He advocated a strong defense without the bullying aspects that McKinley and Roosevelt followed. He worked hard for consolidation between broken southern dreams and Unionist aspirations. He sought unity in all things especially in labor disputes which marred his presidency. He was not a puritan. He was responsible for a child out of wedlock, but he took responsibility for that and provided for the child's well-being. He enjoyed his cigars and his alcohol, but his sobor guidance made this country a better place to live in as he took on corruption wherever he faced it. His two divided terms never stopped his desire to accomplish building a newly growing America. This book is written for the common man who wants a slice of life in the gilded age. Cleveland's gold was however his personality and his dedication to honesty in government. He's a rare jewel in America's politics in this degraded age. We were lucky to have him and he made the country a better place. Can we say that about our current leaders? We need a Grover Cleveland now.