What do you think?
Rate this book
A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
“A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable” (National Review) biography of Grover Cleveland—the honest, principled, and plain-spoken president whose country has largely overlooked him.
“Entertaining and astute” (Booklist), A Man of Iron explores the remarkable life and extraordinary career of Grover Cleveland—one of America’s most unusual presidents and the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms.
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.
“With prodigious research, rich detail…and lively prose” (The Free Lance-Star, Virginia), A Man of Iron is a compelling and vivid biography joining the ranks of presidential classics such as David McCullough’s John Adams, Ron Chernow’s Grant, and Amity Shlaes’s Coolidge.
“Entertaining and astute” (Booklist), A Man of Iron explores the remarkable life and extraordinary career of Grover Cleveland—one of America’s most unusual presidents and the only one to serve two non-consecutive terms.
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.
“With prodigious research, rich detail…and lively prose” (The Free Lance-Star, Virginia), A Man of Iron is a compelling and vivid biography joining the ranks of presidential classics such as David McCullough’s John Adams, Ron Chernow’s Grant, and Amity Shlaes’s Coolidge.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
375 people are currently reading
3595 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
October 5, 2022
President Grover Cleveland is best known for being, as of this date, the only person to serve two nonconsecutive terms as president and that's pretty much it. He has mostly been overlooked by the public familiar with household name presidents before and after his tenure. A Man of Iron is trying to change that, Troy Senik argues that Cleveland was one of our greatest presidents who did not govern under a major crisis like Lincoln, Wilson, or FDR did. The book is well researched and detailed. I especially enjoyed learning about his life before the presidency, specifically his role as sheriff/hangman in Erie County, NY, mayor of Buffalo, and NY Governor. One of the aspects you learn about Cleveland is that he was a man of character and integrity. He fought against corruption and tried to be as ethical as possible even to the detriment to his political party. The book covers his successes and failures as president, First Lady Frances Cleveland, the Pullman Strike, his scandalous cancer surgery, and more. It will be interesting to see if this book helps elevates his status among historians. In my mind it definitely elevates him as a person of integrity and good character.
Thanks to NetGalley, Threshold Editions, and Troy Senik for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, Threshold Editions, and Troy Senik for a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
Quote ...everything worth saying about Grover Cleveland boils down to ... one elemental fact: he possessed moral courage at almost superhuman levels. ... [His] tenacious devotion to principle [was his] Achilles' heal as often as it was his crowning virtue. ... What makes [him] so peculiar... : he was a born statesman who never quite mastered the lower arts of politics. Unquote pp. 320-321
December 22, 2022
A great book! Proof that you don't need to commit to 900+ pages to enjoy a fine, well-researched biography. Senik is a very engaging writer, and I love reading from authors who clearly admire their subjects and like to talk about them. Even so, he is fair and doesn't pass over Cleveland's faults. I came away with an appreciation for Grover Cleveland and a renewed hope that such principled souls as his might one day people the halls of government again.
October 13, 2022
https://wp.me/p302YQ-5Zv
“A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland” is Troy Senik’s newly-released biography of the 22nd and 24th president. Senik is a writer whose work has appeared in The Orange County Register, City Journal and the Los Angeles Times. He recently co-founded Kite & Key, a digital media company.
Grover Cleveland, virtually unknown today, was hardly better known in his own time. A few years before his presidency he was a lawyer whose claim-to-fame was a stint as Erie County sheriff. Now he is best remembered – if at all – as the only president to serve non-consecutive terms in the White House.
Hailed as a long overdue promotion of Cleveland’s character and place in history, “A Man of Iron” is Senik’s attempt to re-introduce this overlooked president into the American consciousness. But while his book is successful in that effort, it is not the first biography to attempt such a mission. Alyn Brodsky’s dynamic “Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character” was published in 2000 with the same objective.
Readers new to Cleveland will find Senik’s writing lively, insightful and engaging with an occasionally casual feel. As a result, this book’s 323 pages of text are remarkably easy to consume – irrespective of one’s familiarity with late 19th century American history. The narrative is liberally infused with interesting (and relevant) trivia, keen observations and witty one-liners. Given its subject, this book is surprisingly hard to put down.
In writing what is essentially a hybrid biography / character study, Senik largely relies on groundwork laid by previous biographers. His central thesis – that Cleveland was a great president even if he did not enjoy a great presidency – seems an exercise in semantics. But Senik’s evaluation of Cleveland’s admirably principled character, and the biography into which that analysis is infused, is both convincing and enlightening.
Entertaining, if well-worn, are stories of alleged infidelity told during Cleveland’s first presidential campaign and anecdotes about his tendency to act against his own interests but for the public good. Also gripping is Senik’s account of Cleveland’s secret surgery-at-sea. And the book’s first pages, examining how Americans rate and rank their chief executives, is uncommonly thought-provoking.
But readers already familiar with Cleveland will find little new in this book. Most of the ground Senik covers has been well trod by previous biographers and, notwithstanding the publisher’s claims of “newly uncovered details,” there seems to be little in this book which is truly revelatory.
And in order to maintain the book’s relatively light weight (it is less than half the size of Allan Nevins’s 1932 classic and roughly the length of Richard Welch’s review of Cleveland’s presidency), Senik had to excise much of Cleveland’s life and his era. Finally, this book occasionally feels less like a biography than an apology to Cleveland for the obscurity he endures at a time when politics seems to need someone with his unflinching ethical instincts.
Overall, Troy Senik’s new biography proves a thoroughly readable exploration of Grover Cleveland’s character. While lacking some of the historical context and depth of a more completely examined life, this book does a commendable job capturing the essence of Cleveland’s seventy-one years and the era he inhabited.
Overall Rating: 4 stars
“A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland” is Troy Senik’s newly-released biography of the 22nd and 24th president. Senik is a writer whose work has appeared in The Orange County Register, City Journal and the Los Angeles Times. He recently co-founded Kite & Key, a digital media company.
Grover Cleveland, virtually unknown today, was hardly better known in his own time. A few years before his presidency he was a lawyer whose claim-to-fame was a stint as Erie County sheriff. Now he is best remembered – if at all – as the only president to serve non-consecutive terms in the White House.
Hailed as a long overdue promotion of Cleveland’s character and place in history, “A Man of Iron” is Senik’s attempt to re-introduce this overlooked president into the American consciousness. But while his book is successful in that effort, it is not the first biography to attempt such a mission. Alyn Brodsky’s dynamic “Grover Cleveland: A Study in Character” was published in 2000 with the same objective.
Readers new to Cleveland will find Senik’s writing lively, insightful and engaging with an occasionally casual feel. As a result, this book’s 323 pages of text are remarkably easy to consume – irrespective of one’s familiarity with late 19th century American history. The narrative is liberally infused with interesting (and relevant) trivia, keen observations and witty one-liners. Given its subject, this book is surprisingly hard to put down.
In writing what is essentially a hybrid biography / character study, Senik largely relies on groundwork laid by previous biographers. His central thesis – that Cleveland was a great president even if he did not enjoy a great presidency – seems an exercise in semantics. But Senik’s evaluation of Cleveland’s admirably principled character, and the biography into which that analysis is infused, is both convincing and enlightening.
Entertaining, if well-worn, are stories of alleged infidelity told during Cleveland’s first presidential campaign and anecdotes about his tendency to act against his own interests but for the public good. Also gripping is Senik’s account of Cleveland’s secret surgery-at-sea. And the book’s first pages, examining how Americans rate and rank their chief executives, is uncommonly thought-provoking.
But readers already familiar with Cleveland will find little new in this book. Most of the ground Senik covers has been well trod by previous biographers and, notwithstanding the publisher’s claims of “newly uncovered details,” there seems to be little in this book which is truly revelatory.
And in order to maintain the book’s relatively light weight (it is less than half the size of Allan Nevins’s 1932 classic and roughly the length of Richard Welch’s review of Cleveland’s presidency), Senik had to excise much of Cleveland’s life and his era. Finally, this book occasionally feels less like a biography than an apology to Cleveland for the obscurity he endures at a time when politics seems to need someone with his unflinching ethical instincts.
Overall, Troy Senik’s new biography proves a thoroughly readable exploration of Grover Cleveland’s character. While lacking some of the historical context and depth of a more completely examined life, this book does a commendable job capturing the essence of Cleveland’s seventy-one years and the era he inhabited.
Overall Rating: 4 stars
January 7, 2024
― “He would be the final Democratic president to embrace the classical liberal principles of the party’s founder, Thomas Jefferson. Cleveland believed in a narrow interpretation of the Constitution, a limited role for the federal government, and a light touch on economic affairs.”
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
If I were to ask you to name some of the greatest American presidents, you would probably include names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt. Most lists would probably not include more than five or six names. Sadly, most lists would include no more than a half dozen men, and not just because we had few great presidents. Several surveys have shown that the average American is unable to name even half of the American presidents. Few, if any of you, would include Grover Cleveland on your list of our greatest presidents. Yet, author and former presidential speechwriter Troy Senik believes that Grover Cleveland was one of our greatest presidents. His biography of Cleveland seems aimed, in part, at convincing the reader that Cleveland should be included on our lists of the greatest. His argument is something of a tough sell since he acknowledges that Cleveland "did not have a great presidency."
― “To be sure, this volume does not claim that Grover Cleveland had one of America’s great presidencies; but it does claim that, despite his many shortcomings, he was one of our greatest presidents.”
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
While I think Senik’s argument falls short of the mark, Cleveland is still an interesting man to study. Cleveland was born in New Jersey in 1837, one of nine children of a Presbyterian minister. He was raised in upstate New York. Cleveland’s childhood certainly did not presage his future roles in life. He ended his formal schooling at the age of 16 because of family commitments. His own sister noted that “Grover did not shine” as a student. Certainly, few would have predicted his meteoric rise from sheriff to mayor of Buffalo to governor of New York to president of the United States within a period of about three years.
There are some notable things about Cleveland in these years that Senik argues made him great. He consistently fought corruption that was commonplace in public office. As mayor of Buffalo, he exposed city corruption. As governor of New York, he refused to be intimidated by Tammany Hall, that notorious Democratic political machine in New York. In addition to his reputation for honesty, he was known for his hard work (By constitution, he was a workhorse). He worked long hours and, as a lawyer in Buffalo, he became notable for his single-minded concentration upon whatever task he faced. It was his reputation for honesty and hard work that won him the New York gubernatorial race.
― “In over 230 years of the American presidency there’s never been another figure quite like him: thoroughly unimpressed by the pretensions of politics, unwilling to jettison his core beliefs even when expediency or prudence may have counseled otherwise….”
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
Cleveland is best known as the only president to have served two non-consecutive terms as president. His presidency is interesting because he was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War and the only Democrat elected president between 1856 and 1912. Cleveland was also the only president wed in the White House. His wife, Frances, was the youngest first lady in American history (she was not quite 22). As first lady, she was probably unrivaled until Jackie Kennedy. As president, Cleveland favored executive restraint, federal restraint, civil-service reform, and low tariffs. On a walk with a Buffalo acquaintance shortly after the election, he declared, “Henceforth, I must have no friends.” He embraced this as a necessity if he was to stick to his core principles.
In his inaugural address, Cleveland encouraged the nation to abandon sectional prejudice and distrust. He also tried to ease the fears of the nation’s black population in his inaugural address. Yet Cleveland large restrained from rhetorical leadership during his presidency. Some notable actions during his presidency include signing of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 into law (which gives the vice president the “purely ministerial role of the proceedings”). He sought to reduce high protective tariffs but was blocked by Congress. When 150,000 railroad workers walked off the job in sympathy with the Pullman Car workers' strike in Illinois, Cleveland sent federal troops to crush the revolt. His decision to support the business community over labor drew a great deal of criticism at the time as well as later from historians.
During his second term, Cleveland had to deal with the most severe depression the nation had ever suffered until then. By 1894, the U. unemployment rate stood at 18 percent. Cleveland’s presidency ended rather ignobly. In the election of 1894, the Democrats suffered losses in the House of Representatives that remain the worst in American history. The number of Democrats in the House of Representatives went from 218 in the 53rd Congress to just to 93 in the 54th Congress. As Senik puts it, “The era of Grover Cleveland—in fact, the entire philosophy of Grover Cleveland—was not just over, it was anathematized.”
The author places Grover Cleveland among that elite group of presidents who can be called “great.” Senik does so for one primary reason—Grover Cleveland was an honest, hard-working, thoroughly incorruptible man. While I remain unconvinced, these are qualities I thoroughly admire in the man. Because of these qualities, I thoroughly enjoyed the portion of the book up until his first term as president. Then the book bogs down in my opinion. In addition to shedding light on one of our lesser-known presidents, Senik won me over by keeping his biography short. At just 323 pages, it should make the average reader smile.
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
If I were to ask you to name some of the greatest American presidents, you would probably include names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Theodore Roosevelt. Most lists would probably not include more than five or six names. Sadly, most lists would include no more than a half dozen men, and not just because we had few great presidents. Several surveys have shown that the average American is unable to name even half of the American presidents. Few, if any of you, would include Grover Cleveland on your list of our greatest presidents. Yet, author and former presidential speechwriter Troy Senik believes that Grover Cleveland was one of our greatest presidents. His biography of Cleveland seems aimed, in part, at convincing the reader that Cleveland should be included on our lists of the greatest. His argument is something of a tough sell since he acknowledges that Cleveland "did not have a great presidency."
― “To be sure, this volume does not claim that Grover Cleveland had one of America’s great presidencies; but it does claim that, despite his many shortcomings, he was one of our greatest presidents.”
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
While I think Senik’s argument falls short of the mark, Cleveland is still an interesting man to study. Cleveland was born in New Jersey in 1837, one of nine children of a Presbyterian minister. He was raised in upstate New York. Cleveland’s childhood certainly did not presage his future roles in life. He ended his formal schooling at the age of 16 because of family commitments. His own sister noted that “Grover did not shine” as a student. Certainly, few would have predicted his meteoric rise from sheriff to mayor of Buffalo to governor of New York to president of the United States within a period of about three years.
There are some notable things about Cleveland in these years that Senik argues made him great. He consistently fought corruption that was commonplace in public office. As mayor of Buffalo, he exposed city corruption. As governor of New York, he refused to be intimidated by Tammany Hall, that notorious Democratic political machine in New York. In addition to his reputation for honesty, he was known for his hard work (By constitution, he was a workhorse). He worked long hours and, as a lawyer in Buffalo, he became notable for his single-minded concentration upon whatever task he faced. It was his reputation for honesty and hard work that won him the New York gubernatorial race.
― “In over 230 years of the American presidency there’s never been another figure quite like him: thoroughly unimpressed by the pretensions of politics, unwilling to jettison his core beliefs even when expediency or prudence may have counseled otherwise….”
― Troy Senik, A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland
Cleveland is best known as the only president to have served two non-consecutive terms as president. His presidency is interesting because he was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War and the only Democrat elected president between 1856 and 1912. Cleveland was also the only president wed in the White House. His wife, Frances, was the youngest first lady in American history (she was not quite 22). As first lady, she was probably unrivaled until Jackie Kennedy. As president, Cleveland favored executive restraint, federal restraint, civil-service reform, and low tariffs. On a walk with a Buffalo acquaintance shortly after the election, he declared, “Henceforth, I must have no friends.” He embraced this as a necessity if he was to stick to his core principles.
In his inaugural address, Cleveland encouraged the nation to abandon sectional prejudice and distrust. He also tried to ease the fears of the nation’s black population in his inaugural address. Yet Cleveland large restrained from rhetorical leadership during his presidency. Some notable actions during his presidency include signing of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 into law (which gives the vice president the “purely ministerial role of the proceedings”). He sought to reduce high protective tariffs but was blocked by Congress. When 150,000 railroad workers walked off the job in sympathy with the Pullman Car workers' strike in Illinois, Cleveland sent federal troops to crush the revolt. His decision to support the business community over labor drew a great deal of criticism at the time as well as later from historians.
During his second term, Cleveland had to deal with the most severe depression the nation had ever suffered until then. By 1894, the U. unemployment rate stood at 18 percent. Cleveland’s presidency ended rather ignobly. In the election of 1894, the Democrats suffered losses in the House of Representatives that remain the worst in American history. The number of Democrats in the House of Representatives went from 218 in the 53rd Congress to just to 93 in the 54th Congress. As Senik puts it, “The era of Grover Cleveland—in fact, the entire philosophy of Grover Cleveland—was not just over, it was anathematized.”
The author places Grover Cleveland among that elite group of presidents who can be called “great.” Senik does so for one primary reason—Grover Cleveland was an honest, hard-working, thoroughly incorruptible man. While I remain unconvinced, these are qualities I thoroughly admire in the man. Because of these qualities, I thoroughly enjoyed the portion of the book up until his first term as president. Then the book bogs down in my opinion. In addition to shedding light on one of our lesser-known presidents, Senik won me over by keeping his biography short. At just 323 pages, it should make the average reader smile.
September 9, 2022
I had the opportunity to review this book for Open Letters Review. You can read my full review through this link.
https://openlettersreview.com
https://openlettersreview.com
September 30, 2022
I've been reading American biographies, including of all the presidents, in rough chronological order, so I was excited when Senik's new biography of Grover Cleveland appeared right as I was reaching the late 1880s. As Senik himself observes, the presidents between Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt run together in our memories. The biographies that are available tend to be very cursory or very judgmental (one way or the other), which doesn't help matters. This one is exactly what I want in a biography of an unjustly obscure leader: a sense of who he was as a man (not just an unhelpful hagiography or condemnation), of what he did that mattered, of his position in a historical context. I now have a clear picture of what it might be like to meet Grover Cleveland, a picture that is a fair bit more nuanced than the vague libertarian caricature I had in my head. Certainly as mayor of Buffalo he was a more engaged civic leader than one might expect, and as president his famously huge number of vetoes of pension bills (if he's famous for anything, he's famous for that) reflected not the lack of compassion for veterans that his enemies tarred him with, but a profound sense of responsibility for the federal government's budget and the federal government's properly limited constitutional role. He was also a surprising wit, with some lines that I thought were reminiscent of how a Coolidge or a Reagan would later talk. I also have a clearer sense of the stakes in four presidential elections that have receded far out of historical memory now, but that each had compelling dramas and characters at play. Cleveland's eloquent resistance to the acquisition of Hawaii was a particularly absorbing historical moment. Overall, out of 23 presidential biographies I've read in chronological sequence now, I rank this in the top 6, right alongside some biographies of well-known presidents by celebrated writers. A brisk, informative, well-paced read.
October 11, 2025
This book has been on my radar for a while, but I never got around to reading it 😅👀🙈 James Garfield is MY GUY, especially when it comes to Gilded Age presidents. I’m familiar with Arthur simply because he was Garfield’s VP, but the others surrounding the 1880 electees fall into the same obscurity that occurs to most President’s in the chasm between Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt (as Senik notes in his afterword).
This summer, my small group leader loaned me his copy of the book and left me no excuse to continue avoiding it—thank GOODNESS for that because this book was incredible! I loved learning more about Grover Cleveland and, though no POTUS will ever rival Garfield’s spot in my heart, Cleveland certainly gave him a run for his (gold) 🤭 #historianjokes
Grover Cleveland was a humble man who was concerned ONLY with doing what was right. He never acted in anyone’s interest other than the people of the US, even if it came at the expense of his political reputation/career. He shot up to the top position in the United States’ political system in the matter of only a few years, but he fell hard and fast at the end of his second term—ousted from DC society. His post-White House residency in the town of Princeton revived him in a way it seems nothing else could have done. He made his way back into the hearts of Americans a few years after he stepped out of office and ended up establishing good relationships with future presidents on both sides of the aisle that honestly just made me admire him even more.
This summer, my small group leader loaned me his copy of the book and left me no excuse to continue avoiding it—thank GOODNESS for that because this book was incredible! I loved learning more about Grover Cleveland and, though no POTUS will ever rival Garfield’s spot in my heart, Cleveland certainly gave him a run for his (gold) 🤭 #historianjokes
Grover Cleveland was a humble man who was concerned ONLY with doing what was right. He never acted in anyone’s interest other than the people of the US, even if it came at the expense of his political reputation/career. He shot up to the top position in the United States’ political system in the matter of only a few years, but he fell hard and fast at the end of his second term—ousted from DC society. His post-White House residency in the town of Princeton revived him in a way it seems nothing else could have done. He made his way back into the hearts of Americans a few years after he stepped out of office and ended up establishing good relationships with future presidents on both sides of the aisle that honestly just made me admire him even more.
June 29, 2023
“Grover Cleveland’s lack of notoriety is, as an objective matter, inexplicable. Of the forty-five men who have served as President of the United States, Cleveland is one of only fourteen to have served eight full years. Nearly all the rest are household names. He is one of only three presidents, Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt are the others, to win the popular vote three times. And he is, of course, the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms….Surely, there is room for him in the ranks of presidents we regard as distinctive and significant.”
Thorough biography of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), relying on both original sources and credible contemporary documents. It covers his youth, law practice, and political career. It includes the major touchstones of Cleveland’s presidency, including the annexation of Hawaii, the debate about currency standard between gold and silver, opposition to Tammany Hall, and labor struggles of the period. Senik’s premise is that Cleveland is an under-appreciated president who deserves to be better known, particularly due to his reputation as a man of principles.
It is easy to read, flows well, and, at less than 400 pages, does not subscribe to the idea that biographies must be massive tomes. I hesitate to fully embrace the author’s insistence on Cleveland’s deep integrity. In fact, several of the biographical details lend credence to its opposite, particularly in his personal life. However, he does make a case for Cleveland going against his own party in cases where he disagreed from a moral perspective. It contains a few lesser-known aspects of his life, such as his cancer surgery held on a yacht on the East River, and the attempt to hide it from the public. I had not read much about Grover Cleveland and found it a good starting point. I read this book as part of my ongoing project to read a biography of each American President.
Thorough biography of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), relying on both original sources and credible contemporary documents. It covers his youth, law practice, and political career. It includes the major touchstones of Cleveland’s presidency, including the annexation of Hawaii, the debate about currency standard between gold and silver, opposition to Tammany Hall, and labor struggles of the period. Senik’s premise is that Cleveland is an under-appreciated president who deserves to be better known, particularly due to his reputation as a man of principles.
It is easy to read, flows well, and, at less than 400 pages, does not subscribe to the idea that biographies must be massive tomes. I hesitate to fully embrace the author’s insistence on Cleveland’s deep integrity. In fact, several of the biographical details lend credence to its opposite, particularly in his personal life. However, he does make a case for Cleveland going against his own party in cases where he disagreed from a moral perspective. It contains a few lesser-known aspects of his life, such as his cancer surgery held on a yacht on the East River, and the attempt to hide it from the public. I had not read much about Grover Cleveland and found it a good starting point. I read this book as part of my ongoing project to read a biography of each American President.
March 12, 2023
I decided during my Noble Quest that if a new biography is released on a president, particularly a more obscure President, then I would buy it and read it.
So it was for A Man of Iron, by Troy Senik; the first full biography on Grover Cleveland in decades. Senik does a great job - certainly attempts to enhance his reputation, while not sugar-coating some of his less impressive decisions. While Cleveland was an interesting man for sure, it wasn’t such an interesting period - the main issues where tariffs, gold/silver standard and maybe a few potential annexations. Tough to read some of that stuff.
Senik should be commended for giving us a biography on a low profile president and he does it really well.
So it was for A Man of Iron, by Troy Senik; the first full biography on Grover Cleveland in decades. Senik does a great job - certainly attempts to enhance his reputation, while not sugar-coating some of his less impressive decisions. While Cleveland was an interesting man for sure, it wasn’t such an interesting period - the main issues where tariffs, gold/silver standard and maybe a few potential annexations. Tough to read some of that stuff.
Senik should be commended for giving us a biography on a low profile president and he does it really well.
February 25, 2023
"Every presidency is at some level is music. George Washington's was a stately, majestic march. Lincoln's was a sweeping, melancholy pastoral. F. D. R.'s - at least pre World War II - was pure jazz, largely improvised but irresistibly energetic. Up through the summer of 1886 Grover Cleveland's felt a bit like a harpsichord recital - exacting, precise, and joyless. No one doubted that the president was taking his responsibilities seriously. In fact, his sense of duty bordered on an obsession. Less clear was whether he was actually enjoying any of it.
"Grover Cleveland was not a mirthless man but then when acting an official capacity it wasn't clear that he was a man at all. Friends described a figure who in moments of repose was accessible, warm, and quick to laugh. The second matters of state intruded, however, he reverted it to a somber, immovable piece of granite. There was no humor, no flexibility, and no respite. Given the executive hours he devoted to duty that dour face became the one by which the world knew him."
I knew next to nothing about this former President but when I stumbled across the title I was intrigued and wanted to learn about him. This read was both entertaining and educational. The author is gifted and I can see why he is a former speech writer in the White House. He took what could have been a very dry, boring account of a rather serious and somber President and weaved a captivating retelling of his important life and contributions to our nation.
It's highly improbable that Grover Cleveland, or someone like him, could be elected to the highest office in our land today but we would greatly benefit from more people like him in leadership positions in our nation. He was truly a man of iron whose moral convictions and upright character caused him to rise to the top and earn the respect of so many in his day. He may have been one of the least sparkly presidents we've ever had but I dare say he was probably one of the best. At least, that's one of the important messages I took from this book.
A funny story from the book -
"The president abjuring campaign speeches once again put the lion's share of work on Thurman leading to a series of public embarrassments. None was worse than when the vice president nominee began the speech to the crowd at Madison Square Garden by pronouncing with seeming defiance, 'I have heard it said since I was nominated for the vice presidency of the United States that Allen G. Thurman is an old, weak, broken down man.' He proceeded, however, to confirm the thesis rather than refute it. 'I don't know what to reply to this. It seems to me though that I am not quite as well as I ought to be and I am in no condition to speak to an immense audience like this tonight. I want to speak but I am too unwell.' The candidate was then helped off the stage and the crowd of 20,000 was sent home with the explanation that Allen Thurman had the flu."
"Grover Cleveland was not a mirthless man but then when acting an official capacity it wasn't clear that he was a man at all. Friends described a figure who in moments of repose was accessible, warm, and quick to laugh. The second matters of state intruded, however, he reverted it to a somber, immovable piece of granite. There was no humor, no flexibility, and no respite. Given the executive hours he devoted to duty that dour face became the one by which the world knew him."
I knew next to nothing about this former President but when I stumbled across the title I was intrigued and wanted to learn about him. This read was both entertaining and educational. The author is gifted and I can see why he is a former speech writer in the White House. He took what could have been a very dry, boring account of a rather serious and somber President and weaved a captivating retelling of his important life and contributions to our nation.
It's highly improbable that Grover Cleveland, or someone like him, could be elected to the highest office in our land today but we would greatly benefit from more people like him in leadership positions in our nation. He was truly a man of iron whose moral convictions and upright character caused him to rise to the top and earn the respect of so many in his day. He may have been one of the least sparkly presidents we've ever had but I dare say he was probably one of the best. At least, that's one of the important messages I took from this book.
A funny story from the book -
"The president abjuring campaign speeches once again put the lion's share of work on Thurman leading to a series of public embarrassments. None was worse than when the vice president nominee began the speech to the crowd at Madison Square Garden by pronouncing with seeming defiance, 'I have heard it said since I was nominated for the vice presidency of the United States that Allen G. Thurman is an old, weak, broken down man.' He proceeded, however, to confirm the thesis rather than refute it. 'I don't know what to reply to this. It seems to me though that I am not quite as well as I ought to be and I am in no condition to speak to an immense audience like this tonight. I want to speak but I am too unwell.' The candidate was then helped off the stage and the crowd of 20,000 was sent home with the explanation that Allen Thurman had the flu."
February 17, 2023
I bought “A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland” because Cleveland is our only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. With Donald Trump campaigning for a second, non-consecutive term as president, I thought Troy Senik’s Cleveland biography was timely. However, unlike Trump, who lost the popular vote even when he won the Electoral College in 2016, Cleveland won the popular vote three times, even in 1888 when he lost the presidency to Benjamin Harrison. I learned that conspiracy theories following Trump’s 2020 defeat also followed incumbent Cleveland’s defeat in 1888, although, unlike Trump, Cleveland did not support them. Cleveland lost, he told journalists, “mainly because the other party had the most votes.” Author Senik tells us that Cleveland was a popular president in his first term but a disliked president by the end of his second term. Most importantly, readers learn that Cleveland was a man of integrity, so much so that Cleveland was ashamed of the United States for toppling the Hawaii monarchy near the end of the Harrison administration (although Harrison had not approved his diplomats’ actions). Cleveland inherited the mess and struggled to find an honorable solution. Senik builds the case for Cleveland to be viewed as one of our better presidents. “While there is no good case for Grover Cleveland to be on Mount Rushmore, there is likewise no good reason that he should be entirely absent from Americans’ historical memory,” he writes in the afterword. A few pages later: “In the course of just three years, Grover Cleveland was elevated from the obscurity of a Buffalo law office to the presidency of the United States on the basis of one principle: integrity. The Cleveland philosophy was that the executive existed not to collaborate with the legislature but to do battle on behalf of otherwise voiceless citizens. . ..” I like that Senik includes notes at the bottom of many pages, not with sources — those are at the end — but with additional information. But Senik’s common use of uncommon words makes the book less commercially appealing. On Page 42 alone, he uses “suffused,” “interlocutors” and “hagiographic.” A couple of omissions that won’t matter to anyone but me: While writing about the attempt to move the United States to a silver standard, Senik makes four references to the Bland-Allison Act of 1878 without identifying co-sponsor Richard Parks “Silver Dick” Bland, who has a statue on the lawn of my local courthouse. I also would have liked to see mention of Cleveland’s look-alike grandson, George, who often attends an annual history-themed festival just down the road from me. If I ever have a chance to meet George Cleveland, I’ll bring this book for him to sign.
August 14, 2024
Audible credit 12 hours Narrated by Pete Simonelli (A)
Introduction read by Troy Selnik
Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was an honest, principled, and plain-spoken president whose country has largely overlooked him. Why? This is a thoroughly readable biography that helped me appreciate what it cost to be a man of principles and not to curry favor as a politician during the Gilded Age.
I am grateful for all the favorable reviews this book was given by Goodreads friends.
Introduction read by Troy Selnik
Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was an honest, principled, and plain-spoken president whose country has largely overlooked him. Why? This is a thoroughly readable biography that helped me appreciate what it cost to be a man of principles and not to curry favor as a politician during the Gilded Age.
I am grateful for all the favorable reviews this book was given by Goodreads friends.
January 8, 2023
This is an exceptionally readable biography of Grover Cleveland. Senik argues in the introduction that while Cleveland's two terms were not among America's greatest presidencies, Cleveland himself was one of America's greatest presidents - thanks to his inflexible but transparent character. I think that claim ends up turning on how one conceives of virtue in a person that pursues the office, which also depends on the role one thinks the federal government should play. But, with the help of Senik's account, it's hard not to respect Cleveland's incorruptibility, his commitment to hard work, and his affection for his family and inner circle.
Senik is not an academic historian - or more to the point, has chosen not to write a scholarly biography, in a couple senses. First, his language is engagingly colloquial, which occasionally results in sentences like this: "Instead, he was about to take a professional left turn that was, to use the technical term, pretty bananas." Second, and more substantively, the book relies almost entirely on secondary sources, even where the primary sources are accessible on the internet and would have been relatively easy to track down. There's no particular reason to think that this leads him wrong - but he pretty clearly is relying on the accuracy of previous biographers. That said, his account offers a compelling through-story in its portrait of Cleveland's essential character.
Why this biography now? Senik, who worked in the George W. Bush White House as a speechwriter, says in an afterword that he'd wanted to write this for two decades. That said, his portrait of Cleveland - a limited government conservative of iron character whose party abandoned him in a populist wave - must resonate in this historic moment for heirs of the traditional core of the Republican party. I don't know whether Senik is a Never-Trumper; he did tweet a short November 2022 Twitter thread pointing out that Cleveland and Trump are utterly unlike in personality and commitments: https://twitter.com/troy_senik/status.... Ultimately, Senik admires Cleveland's integrity and humility while acknowledging the price he paid for his aggressive inflexibility.
At multiple points in the biography, Senik notes that one or another issue of public policy from the 1890s is hard for many Americans to relate to now - tariffs, the gold standard - and that may be why Cleveland isn't more widely appreciated. But, reading this as a liberal, there's another, more basic reason. Cleveland’s integrity was great, but it was paired with a vision of limited government and the public good that seems to have left no room to tackle economic inequalities and social injustices with deep roots in law and government policies. If government could help create these problems (and it demonstrably did), how could it have no role in solving them? One can argue about the most effective policy strategies, but on quite a number of issues, Cleveland never even got to that question.
Senik is not an academic historian - or more to the point, has chosen not to write a scholarly biography, in a couple senses. First, his language is engagingly colloquial, which occasionally results in sentences like this: "Instead, he was about to take a professional left turn that was, to use the technical term, pretty bananas." Second, and more substantively, the book relies almost entirely on secondary sources, even where the primary sources are accessible on the internet and would have been relatively easy to track down. There's no particular reason to think that this leads him wrong - but he pretty clearly is relying on the accuracy of previous biographers. That said, his account offers a compelling through-story in its portrait of Cleveland's essential character.
Why this biography now? Senik, who worked in the George W. Bush White House as a speechwriter, says in an afterword that he'd wanted to write this for two decades. That said, his portrait of Cleveland - a limited government conservative of iron character whose party abandoned him in a populist wave - must resonate in this historic moment for heirs of the traditional core of the Republican party. I don't know whether Senik is a Never-Trumper; he did tweet a short November 2022 Twitter thread pointing out that Cleveland and Trump are utterly unlike in personality and commitments: https://twitter.com/troy_senik/status.... Ultimately, Senik admires Cleveland's integrity and humility while acknowledging the price he paid for his aggressive inflexibility.
At multiple points in the biography, Senik notes that one or another issue of public policy from the 1890s is hard for many Americans to relate to now - tariffs, the gold standard - and that may be why Cleveland isn't more widely appreciated. But, reading this as a liberal, there's another, more basic reason. Cleveland’s integrity was great, but it was paired with a vision of limited government and the public good that seems to have left no room to tackle economic inequalities and social injustices with deep roots in law and government policies. If government could help create these problems (and it demonstrably did), how could it have no role in solving them? One can argue about the most effective policy strategies, but on quite a number of issues, Cleveland never even got to that question.
March 11, 2024
I’m glad I came across this book. Grover Cleveland is a forgotten president, but he was an interesting man, whose successes and struggles shed light on what America was like at the time.
I enjoyed Troy Senik’s writing. He has a plainspoken style which I liked. He boiled down complex issues concisely and clearly, without any flowery language. He is an admirer of Cleveland, but his arguments seemed strong to me, and he was fair at pointing out his shortcomings.
My first stab at this review got way too long and disorganized, so this time I’ll just share a quick list of some things that are interesting about Grover Cleveland:
Until 3 years before his presidency, he was an unknown lawyer – well respected but no one you would imagine becoming the next President.
He was willing to take unpopular stands throughout his political career. As Governor he vetoed a popular bill to reduce train fares. As President he vetoed hundreds of bills asking for pension claims for Civil War veterans (imagine a modern president spending so much of his time denying funding for veterans!).
He did not follow the “spoils system” to reward his powerful political allies with jobs. He filled government jobs based on merit.
He entered the presidency as a bachelor but got married during his first term. 21 year-old Frances Cleveland became the youngest First Lady before or since.
Libertarians like Cleveland, and I can see why. He was the most libertarian of the Presidents of his era, and maybe of any era. He fought against higher spending. He was cautious to not to exercise authority not specifically granted by the Constitution. He lowered tariffs. He fought for the Gold Standard. He argued against imperialism.
I think even those who don’t like his policies have to admit that he was principled. Senik has a catchy line that stuck with me: “he possessed moral courage at almost superhuman levels”. He was absolutely not afraid to tell people “no” and accept the political consequences.
He had a sex scandal, which you might know from the line “Ma ma, where’s my Pa?”
How did he attain so much political success? He lacked charisma. He was too obstinate to be good at building political coalitions. He wasn't a particularly skilled orator. His success is a complicated story that I don’t fully understand. Initially, he built up support from the respect he earned for his competence and character. And the Democratic party being divided helped him squeeze through in a crowded field.
His resurgence in 1892 was driven by a change in prevailing attitudes towards tariffs, with there suddenly being large support for reductions, something Cleveland had always clearly and loudly favored. But he would be deeply unpopular by the end of his 2nd term, as the Democratic party turned towards the “silverite” wing of the party led by William Jennings Bryant.
But he would again rise in popularity, and in 1900 if he was in better health it is quite possible that he would have been nominated, and he would have accepted, a 4th run at the Presidency.
But this leads us to another question: how does such a towering figure of his era end up so forgotten today? The Democratic party moved away from his limited government philosophy and never came back. One possible reason for his disappearance from our memory, Senik argues, is that the issues of his day (such as the tariff fights, or the gold standard) seems quaint and not relevant to today's issues.
What about his shortcomings? Two that come to mind are his opposition to women's Sufferage and his decision to basically give up on Reconstruction (though he did have progressive views on race for his time). And more generally, it is fair to call him "unimaginative". Though, this is really the flip side of the same coin that gave him so much "moral courage" to not cave into political pressures - he could also be overly stubborn and not see issues in its full range of complexity.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in US Presidents or learning more about the era.
I enjoyed Troy Senik’s writing. He has a plainspoken style which I liked. He boiled down complex issues concisely and clearly, without any flowery language. He is an admirer of Cleveland, but his arguments seemed strong to me, and he was fair at pointing out his shortcomings.
My first stab at this review got way too long and disorganized, so this time I’ll just share a quick list of some things that are interesting about Grover Cleveland:
Until 3 years before his presidency, he was an unknown lawyer – well respected but no one you would imagine becoming the next President.
He was willing to take unpopular stands throughout his political career. As Governor he vetoed a popular bill to reduce train fares. As President he vetoed hundreds of bills asking for pension claims for Civil War veterans (imagine a modern president spending so much of his time denying funding for veterans!).
He did not follow the “spoils system” to reward his powerful political allies with jobs. He filled government jobs based on merit.
He entered the presidency as a bachelor but got married during his first term. 21 year-old Frances Cleveland became the youngest First Lady before or since.
Libertarians like Cleveland, and I can see why. He was the most libertarian of the Presidents of his era, and maybe of any era. He fought against higher spending. He was cautious to not to exercise authority not specifically granted by the Constitution. He lowered tariffs. He fought for the Gold Standard. He argued against imperialism.
I think even those who don’t like his policies have to admit that he was principled. Senik has a catchy line that stuck with me: “he possessed moral courage at almost superhuman levels”. He was absolutely not afraid to tell people “no” and accept the political consequences.
He had a sex scandal, which you might know from the line “Ma ma, where’s my Pa?”
How did he attain so much political success? He lacked charisma. He was too obstinate to be good at building political coalitions. He wasn't a particularly skilled orator. His success is a complicated story that I don’t fully understand. Initially, he built up support from the respect he earned for his competence and character. And the Democratic party being divided helped him squeeze through in a crowded field.
His resurgence in 1892 was driven by a change in prevailing attitudes towards tariffs, with there suddenly being large support for reductions, something Cleveland had always clearly and loudly favored. But he would be deeply unpopular by the end of his 2nd term, as the Democratic party turned towards the “silverite” wing of the party led by William Jennings Bryant.
But he would again rise in popularity, and in 1900 if he was in better health it is quite possible that he would have been nominated, and he would have accepted, a 4th run at the Presidency.
But this leads us to another question: how does such a towering figure of his era end up so forgotten today? The Democratic party moved away from his limited government philosophy and never came back. One possible reason for his disappearance from our memory, Senik argues, is that the issues of his day (such as the tariff fights, or the gold standard) seems quaint and not relevant to today's issues.
What about his shortcomings? Two that come to mind are his opposition to women's Sufferage and his decision to basically give up on Reconstruction (though he did have progressive views on race for his time). And more generally, it is fair to call him "unimaginative". Though, this is really the flip side of the same coin that gave him so much "moral courage" to not cave into political pressures - he could also be overly stubborn and not see issues in its full range of complexity.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in US Presidents or learning more about the era.
March 4, 2025
Grover Cleveland is a man that is often forgotten by the general American public, but is someone that should be remembered for his integrity and virtue. I always had looked forward to this book because I knew that Senik had recently wrote one on our 22nd & 24th president, and I knew it would be entertaining. This book was one of my favorites and loved how the author wrote. With being only 330 pages, it seemed like he covered about as much as you can with a man like Cleveland. These pages read very well and I thought Senik’s writing flowed great. Something that stood out to me in this book was the asterisks that he would put on certain pages, adding a footnote regarding a fact or some clarification. It just puts the book on another level and was nice to have, readability, 9/10. This book is a tad shorter, but I hate to knock its depth too much because I believe I saw a lot of Grovers life in these pages and am leaving the book satisfied, but can see myself reading more on him in the future. I will say Senik seemed to rush through his presidencies a little quicker than I would have liked, but he paid attention to a lot of little things about Cleveland that I found intriguing, 8/10. For engagement, I don’t have much to knock on this portion because this book had me dialed in most of the time. Senik’s writing displayed a mastery of well-researched & fun content, that allows the reader to not only enjoy what is on the pages but to learn what is in them too, 8.75/10. This book lived up to my expectations and reinforces my belief that no matter who the president is, their biography will be interesting (save MVB’s) because they were the President of the United States. Senik’s writing on the Hawaiian rebellion, the Pullman strike, and the 1896 convention was some of the sections where I saw his skills on full display. I really enjoyed this book and appreciate his attempt to reinstate Cleveland in the American public’s memory.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10. Grover Cleveland was a man that went from a lowly buffalo lawyer to the President of the United States is a mere 3 years. He wasn’t a politician, he was a man of character to like the author said, really got lucky. He cares about what the people wanted, not the parties. Throughout his first term, he issued a ton of vetoes, kept up civil service reform, and fought off getting off the gold standard. His 2nd term, 4 years later, was plagued with a depression and the split of his party, both factions moving away from the Chief. But, through this all, Cleveland kept his beliefs in tact and would not waver, although he won’t be remembered for his accomplishments (the biggest being reestablishing equilibrium between the Legislative and Executive branch with his vetoes) he will be someone that is an example of how politicians should act and lead, with a mind for the people, 6/10. For how “Great” he was, I see Grover as someone who never reached the pinnacle of Greatness, but was content with being good as long as he could serve. I respect him for his character during this corrupt period of the Gilded age, as well as bring the first democrat elected into office since James Buchanan (which is crazy). He was a good man who was a good husband and father (although the author barely alludes to this), and should not be put in the category of unimportant forgotten president, 6/10.
Grover Cleveland POTUS Ranking: 11
Overall Rating: 8.5/10. Grover Cleveland was a man that went from a lowly buffalo lawyer to the President of the United States is a mere 3 years. He wasn’t a politician, he was a man of character to like the author said, really got lucky. He cares about what the people wanted, not the parties. Throughout his first term, he issued a ton of vetoes, kept up civil service reform, and fought off getting off the gold standard. His 2nd term, 4 years later, was plagued with a depression and the split of his party, both factions moving away from the Chief. But, through this all, Cleveland kept his beliefs in tact and would not waver, although he won’t be remembered for his accomplishments (the biggest being reestablishing equilibrium between the Legislative and Executive branch with his vetoes) he will be someone that is an example of how politicians should act and lead, with a mind for the people, 6/10. For how “Great” he was, I see Grover as someone who never reached the pinnacle of Greatness, but was content with being good as long as he could serve. I respect him for his character during this corrupt period of the Gilded age, as well as bring the first democrat elected into office since James Buchanan (which is crazy). He was a good man who was a good husband and father (although the author barely alludes to this), and should not be put in the category of unimportant forgotten president, 6/10.
Grover Cleveland POTUS Ranking: 11
January 29, 2024
I struggled with 2 or 3 stars, but ultimately the 2 won out; and it’s a shame because I thought the subject matter to be interesting and you could see the extent of the research that went into the book. Ultimately the failure to really prove the authors thesis with substance coupled with the writing style through poor selections from an overused thesaurus led to the rating.
My overall thoughts of the President, of whom I admittedly knew little before reading, were fairly “meh” to begin with, as is the general perception today. This book didn’t really convince me he was more than that. I will buy that he was headstrong and did go against the grain at the time regarding civil service reform and that he didn’t want to give people political favors just because. However the claim he’s a champion of modern day libertarians, championing limited government intervention didn’t quite come across the finish line. That said, there were some things in here I found interesting, but it was often things going on around him that were more interesting and he happened to be there. I also struggled with why there was the need for an entire chapter on his oral surgery.
The author’s writing style for about 70% of the book is actually decent and keeps the narrative flowing. It’s remaining 30% where a flowing narrative is interrupted with choppy sentences full of oddly chosen adjectives and adverbs that didn’t quite land. They come across as if to say “yes I can use a thesaurus and find clunky synonyms that don’t quite fit in.” It’s a shame the author chose to consistently include sentences like this as it detracted from the reading and at times made me want to grab a dictionary to try and decipher what could have been communicated more clearly.
My overall thoughts of the President, of whom I admittedly knew little before reading, were fairly “meh” to begin with, as is the general perception today. This book didn’t really convince me he was more than that. I will buy that he was headstrong and did go against the grain at the time regarding civil service reform and that he didn’t want to give people political favors just because. However the claim he’s a champion of modern day libertarians, championing limited government intervention didn’t quite come across the finish line. That said, there were some things in here I found interesting, but it was often things going on around him that were more interesting and he happened to be there. I also struggled with why there was the need for an entire chapter on his oral surgery.
The author’s writing style for about 70% of the book is actually decent and keeps the narrative flowing. It’s remaining 30% where a flowing narrative is interrupted with choppy sentences full of oddly chosen adjectives and adverbs that didn’t quite land. They come across as if to say “yes I can use a thesaurus and find clunky synonyms that don’t quite fit in.” It’s a shame the author chose to consistently include sentences like this as it detracted from the reading and at times made me want to grab a dictionary to try and decipher what could have been communicated more clearly.
May 27, 2025
A very readable presidential biography. I find myself with a soft spot for Grover Cleveland - perhaps because it feels like politicians like him don't exist anymore. A politician who was loyal to no one but his constituents and his convictions, regardless of what his party pushed him to do at times. Integrity in politics - imagine?! As one would expect, this ultimately was a big reason why he fell massively out of favor with his party by the end of his second term.
Anyway, random interesting things I learned along the way:
+ Up until, well ... now, he was the only president to serve in split terms. In his first reelection bid, he won popular vote but lost the electoral college - prompting conspiracy theories the election was stolen. (Ah, a tale as old as time. Tariffs were also a hot topic during his presidency lol)
+ He's one of three Presidents to win the popular vote three times.
+ He is the only President to get married at the White House.
+ His sister Rose stood in as "First Lady" before he was married. She didn't like hosting, so to pass time during White House receiving lines, she would mentally conjugate Greek verbs while greeting the throngs of well wishers. (This made me lol)
+ He was the last President to never be recorded on audio.
Anyway, random interesting things I learned along the way:
+ Up until, well ... now, he was the only president to serve in split terms. In his first reelection bid, he won popular vote but lost the electoral college - prompting conspiracy theories the election was stolen. (Ah, a tale as old as time. Tariffs were also a hot topic during his presidency lol)
+ He's one of three Presidents to win the popular vote three times.
+ He is the only President to get married at the White House.
+ His sister Rose stood in as "First Lady" before he was married. She didn't like hosting, so to pass time during White House receiving lines, she would mentally conjugate Greek verbs while greeting the throngs of well wishers. (This made me lol)
+ He was the last President to never be recorded on audio.
December 19, 2022
Cleveland’s sense of duty to the American people in his decision making throughout his tenure in public office was constant. Forgoing his own party in many instances, he chose what he thought best served the his constituents and what most closely adhered to the Constitution even when it cost him. It was interesting to learn about his limited government viewpoint as a Democrat considering the party’s stances today. Overall, I enjoyed learning about this often overlooked President.
September 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this bio- engaging and well researched. Learned lots about Grover Cleveland - what an interesting guy! His commitment to his morals throughout his life, his reputation for honesty, his very quick ascension to the presidency - definitely an underrated president. The author’s afterword & “case” for Cleveland was excellent. On to McKinley (and almost to the 20th century!)
September 30, 2022
Grover Cleveland has been my favorite president for 9 years as of this writing. Not because of what he did so much as what he didn't do- he understood his constitutional limits as president and his moral/ethical limits as a man. His lot was cast in America, and he was a credit to her...even when he was wrong.
The trouble with being a Grover Cleveland man is the response you get when you come out of the Cleveland closet:
"Who?"
"Why?"
"Is he a Browns fan?"
I'm a Christian who is accustomed to handing someone a book when they ask me questions that lay so close to the heart. Sadly, there was no really fresh biography of Cleveland out there to serve that purpose as most of the stuff written in the last 30 years is either hagiography or character assassination. Until now!
Troy Senik has given the world a solid 330 page biography. It's a readable warts-and-all portrait that leaves the reader feeling like they know Cleveland the man and Cleveland the public figure. More importantly, Senik has a great handle on why people have forgotten Cleveland and aims much of the book at that gap.
This is as good as a modern Cleveland biography can get. It nails all the important things and then some.
The trouble with being a Grover Cleveland man is the response you get when you come out of the Cleveland closet:
"Who?"
"Why?"
"Is he a Browns fan?"
I'm a Christian who is accustomed to handing someone a book when they ask me questions that lay so close to the heart. Sadly, there was no really fresh biography of Cleveland out there to serve that purpose as most of the stuff written in the last 30 years is either hagiography or character assassination. Until now!
Troy Senik has given the world a solid 330 page biography. It's a readable warts-and-all portrait that leaves the reader feeling like they know Cleveland the man and Cleveland the public figure. More importantly, Senik has a great handle on why people have forgotten Cleveland and aims much of the book at that gap.
This is as good as a modern Cleveland biography can get. It nails all the important things and then some.
July 24, 2023
My favorite biographies and books on history have really interesting things that I did not previously know. John Toland, Ron Chernow and Erik Larson are a few of my favorites that always seem to find fascinating tidbits. In this book I certainly learned a few things about Grover Cleveland but i can't say that any of it was particularly interesting.
March 25, 2025
A man of iron, but not stone hearted!
September 21, 2024
Great synopsis of a president that unfortunately has faded out of the minds of Americans. Cleveland was to his credit and detriment a man of singular purpose and character. A true statesman.
March 11, 2025
When it appeared Trump was going to be the 2nd former president in history to win non consecutive terms, I read this to gain a historical perspective .
In the last Afterword chapter, Troy Senik, asked why Cleveland isn’t remembered. During the past 2.5 wks, I haven’t heard or read any mention of Trump being the 2nd man besides Cleveland to win nonconsecutive terms, besides this
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign...
This is truly an historic event! Trump is the 1st Republican to accomplish this. Cleveland was the only Democrat to win no consecutive terms. Both men were nominated 3 consecutive times by their parties . The others, Jefferson, Bryan & Roosevelt, all democrats.
Senik speculated the main reason Cleveland has been forgotten is due to 180° changes in both political parties between then & now. Cleveland’s democrats were about small government , being a non-interventionist administration , until societal & global inertia showed their hypocrisy. At least Cleveland’s 1st Presidency that is. During the 1880’s the biggest issue was whether the money supply should be backed by gold or silver. Cleveland was also against government subsidies. He said he was pro labor against bossism,He didn’t wanna get involved in Annexation of Hawaii. Then in his 2nd term, he had issues with Great Britain & their disagreements with Venezuela over border disputes. Domestically, he was fiscally conservative, in favor of civil service reform, against a veterans’ pension benefit program , but then went to the extreme by sending federal troops to Chicago to quell the Pullman Riots, without notifying the governor of Illinois first.
Senik wrote about how the Gilded Age’s waning days in the 1890’s , the (panic of 93) depression of 93-98, split the Democratic Party between “progressives” , led by William Jennings Bryan vs the Eastern Establishment RINO Mugwumps.
During the mid-term 94 congressional elections, Democrats set a record, losing 125 seats! In 24 states, out of 44 states total. Democrats didn’t win a single seat, taking only 1 seat in 6 states . Cleveland felt abandoned by his party. He was even relieved when a republican McKinley beat a democrat Bryan to succeed him as the next President
Former & future presidents from both parties praised Cleveland.
On the titillating, salacious gossipy level, Cleveland provided the paparazzi press with a couple of doozies. 1st, his tryst with an alcoholic widow Maria Halpin , fathered a son , whom Maria named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Oscar Folsom , was Cleveland’s closest friend, who was also an aquatint & years later, after Folsom had died , Cleveland acted as guardian for his friend’s family.
He wasn’t attracted to Mrs. Folsom but to Frances the daughter 🫣. When Cleveland became President at CA age 49, he married 21yo Frances in the White House . The youngest 1st Lady in history ; Jackie Kennedy was 31.
All in all, Cleveland went from being a lawyer to a sheriff to a mayor to a governor to the president of the United States in three years
In comparison, Obama was an Illinois state senator from 96-04, US Senator from 05-08
In the last Afterword chapter, Troy Senik, asked why Cleveland isn’t remembered. During the past 2.5 wks, I haven’t heard or read any mention of Trump being the 2nd man besides Cleveland to win nonconsecutive terms, besides this
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign...
This is truly an historic event! Trump is the 1st Republican to accomplish this. Cleveland was the only Democrat to win no consecutive terms. Both men were nominated 3 consecutive times by their parties . The others, Jefferson, Bryan & Roosevelt, all democrats.
Senik speculated the main reason Cleveland has been forgotten is due to 180° changes in both political parties between then & now. Cleveland’s democrats were about small government , being a non-interventionist administration , until societal & global inertia showed their hypocrisy. At least Cleveland’s 1st Presidency that is. During the 1880’s the biggest issue was whether the money supply should be backed by gold or silver. Cleveland was also against government subsidies. He said he was pro labor against bossism,He didn’t wanna get involved in Annexation of Hawaii. Then in his 2nd term, he had issues with Great Britain & their disagreements with Venezuela over border disputes. Domestically, he was fiscally conservative, in favor of civil service reform, against a veterans’ pension benefit program , but then went to the extreme by sending federal troops to Chicago to quell the Pullman Riots, without notifying the governor of Illinois first.
Senik wrote about how the Gilded Age’s waning days in the 1890’s , the (panic of 93) depression of 93-98, split the Democratic Party between “progressives” , led by William Jennings Bryan vs the Eastern Establishment RINO Mugwumps.
During the mid-term 94 congressional elections, Democrats set a record, losing 125 seats! In 24 states, out of 44 states total. Democrats didn’t win a single seat, taking only 1 seat in 6 states . Cleveland felt abandoned by his party. He was even relieved when a republican McKinley beat a democrat Bryan to succeed him as the next President
Former & future presidents from both parties praised Cleveland.
On the titillating, salacious gossipy level, Cleveland provided the paparazzi press with a couple of doozies. 1st, his tryst with an alcoholic widow Maria Halpin , fathered a son , whom Maria named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Oscar Folsom , was Cleveland’s closest friend, who was also an aquatint & years later, after Folsom had died , Cleveland acted as guardian for his friend’s family.
He wasn’t attracted to Mrs. Folsom but to Frances the daughter 🫣. When Cleveland became President at CA age 49, he married 21yo Frances in the White House . The youngest 1st Lady in history ; Jackie Kennedy was 31.
All in all, Cleveland went from being a lawyer to a sheriff to a mayor to a governor to the president of the United States in three years
In comparison, Obama was an Illinois state senator from 96-04, US Senator from 05-08
November 28, 2024
Senik does a good job of illustrating the improbability of Grover Cleveland's rise and fall and then rise again . . . and, yet again, though, he turned down the opportunity for a third rise to power within his party. But Senik does not convey through his writing--the "turbulent life" part.
For a presidential biography, this is an easy read. I like Senik's conclusions on why Cleveland has mostly been forgotten, even though he was a full two-term president--which is still a select company in the history of presidents. He is in an even more select fraternity, being one of only two men to win the popular vote in a presidential election three times (he and Andrew Jackson both lost the electoral college in one of those three elections), and the most exclusive club of one, thus far, a president that served non-consecutive terms.
But to know why Senik thinks he has been forgotten despite the aforementioned "clubs," you'll have to read the book.
Now, on to an even more obscure president and a blip in the history books, Benjamin Harrison.
Reading the presidential biographies update:
1. George Washington: "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow
2. John Adams: "John Adams" by David McCullough
3. Thomas Jefferson: "American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph Ellis
4. James Madison: "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered" by Lynne Cheney
5. James Monroe: "The Last Founding Father: James Monroe" by Harlow Unger
6. John Quincy Adams: "John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life" by Paul Nagel
7. Andrew Jackson: "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands
8: Martin Van Buren: "Martin Van Buren" by Ted Widmer
9. William Henry Harrison: "William Henry Harrison" by Gail Collins
10. John Tyler: "John Tyler" by Gary May
11. James K. Polk: "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert W. Merry
12. Zachary Taylor: "Zachary Taylor" by John S.D. Eisenhower
13. Millard Fillmore: "Millard Fillmore: Biography of A President" by Robert J. Rayback
14. Franklin Pierce: "Franklin Pierce" by Michael F. Holt
15. James Buchanan: "James Buchanan" by Jean Baker
16. Abraham Lincoln: "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
17. Andrew Johnson: "Andrew Johnson" by Annette Gordon-Reed
18. Ulysses S. Grant: “Grant” by Ron Chernow
19: Rutherford B. Hayes: "Rutherford B. Hayes," by Hans Tresfouss
20: James A. Garfield: "Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President," by Candice Millard
21. Chester Arthur: "The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur," by Scott Greenberger
22 & 24. Grover Cleveland: "A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbably Presidency of Grover Cleveland" by Troy Senik
For a presidential biography, this is an easy read. I like Senik's conclusions on why Cleveland has mostly been forgotten, even though he was a full two-term president--which is still a select company in the history of presidents. He is in an even more select fraternity, being one of only two men to win the popular vote in a presidential election three times (he and Andrew Jackson both lost the electoral college in one of those three elections), and the most exclusive club of one, thus far, a president that served non-consecutive terms.
But to know why Senik thinks he has been forgotten despite the aforementioned "clubs," you'll have to read the book.
Now, on to an even more obscure president and a blip in the history books, Benjamin Harrison.
Reading the presidential biographies update:
1. George Washington: "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow
2. John Adams: "John Adams" by David McCullough
3. Thomas Jefferson: "American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph Ellis
4. James Madison: "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered" by Lynne Cheney
5. James Monroe: "The Last Founding Father: James Monroe" by Harlow Unger
6. John Quincy Adams: "John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life" by Paul Nagel
7. Andrew Jackson: "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands
8: Martin Van Buren: "Martin Van Buren" by Ted Widmer
9. William Henry Harrison: "William Henry Harrison" by Gail Collins
10. John Tyler: "John Tyler" by Gary May
11. James K. Polk: "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert W. Merry
12. Zachary Taylor: "Zachary Taylor" by John S.D. Eisenhower
13. Millard Fillmore: "Millard Fillmore: Biography of A President" by Robert J. Rayback
14. Franklin Pierce: "Franklin Pierce" by Michael F. Holt
15. James Buchanan: "James Buchanan" by Jean Baker
16. Abraham Lincoln: "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
17. Andrew Johnson: "Andrew Johnson" by Annette Gordon-Reed
18. Ulysses S. Grant: “Grant” by Ron Chernow
19: Rutherford B. Hayes: "Rutherford B. Hayes," by Hans Tresfouss
20: James A. Garfield: "Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President," by Candice Millard
21. Chester Arthur: "The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur," by Scott Greenberger
22 & 24. Grover Cleveland: "A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbably Presidency of Grover Cleveland" by Troy Senik
February 5, 2023
I did not much about Grover Cleveland. I do now. Very interesting read. Great resource for research and / or term paper. Enjoy!
April 2, 2025
A remarkable book that tells the story of Cleveland’s life as simply, efficiently, and captivatingly as he lived it. He is certainly deserving of a spot in my top 10, at least.
March 11, 2025
Fascinating character!
November 30, 2024
Grover Cleveland is hardly remembered for having one of the U.S.’ greatest presidencies. If anything, he is only remembered for being the first president (until Trump in 2016 and 2024) to be elected in two non-consecutive terms. In A MAN OF IRON, Troy Senik, a former Bush speechwriter, argues that Cleveland harbored an exceptional character and commitment to the ideals of the office to be considered as one of the greatest presidents in the country’s history. Framed as a “somber, immovable piece of granite” with a scrupulously honest demeanor and steadfast proponent of good governance, Cleveland began his ascent in New York politics (first as Buffalo mayor and then as NY governor) and emerged as the nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1884 presidential race. Described by Senik as a “reactive activist” who bucked the party line by opposing political patronage, Cleveland won a narrow victory in the presidential election to become the first elected Democrat in the post-Civil War era. He served a largely modest presidency defined by laissez faire capitalism, federalism, support of the gold standard, and frequent use of the veto. After narrowly losing his reelection campaign to Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland won a second term in 1892 with even better performance, but the newfound economic populism within the party (led by the likes of William Jennings Bryan) undermined his claim to the mantle of the party. As Senik concludes, Cleveland left office exhausted, unpopular, and largely abandoned by his party.
Senik describes Cleveland as an overlooked figure of modest accomplishment, but with exceptional personal qualities that were uncommon among his predecessors. In this very accessible book, readers are introduced to the contours of Cleveland’s childhood through both of his presidential terms and the period in-between, but without the depth and persuasiveness to be convinced that Cleveland was, as the author argues, “one of our greatest presidents.” Despite being a custodian of reformist politics, Cleveland tenure was defined more by the domestic and foreign challenges that beset him, including an economic depression, labor strikes, a Hawaiian coup, questions about the continuation of the gold standard, perpetuation of tariffs, and debates over the rightful place of economic populism in the party’s agenda. Senik also describes a man who was plagued by the peculiarities of his personality, including a stubborn sanctimony that created frictions within his party and failed to sustain momentum for his agenda after his first term. As Senik writes, Cleveland left office a “marginal figure,” and continues to remain so to this day, despite the efforts of this book to reverse that characterization.
Senik describes Cleveland as an overlooked figure of modest accomplishment, but with exceptional personal qualities that were uncommon among his predecessors. In this very accessible book, readers are introduced to the contours of Cleveland’s childhood through both of his presidential terms and the period in-between, but without the depth and persuasiveness to be convinced that Cleveland was, as the author argues, “one of our greatest presidents.” Despite being a custodian of reformist politics, Cleveland tenure was defined more by the domestic and foreign challenges that beset him, including an economic depression, labor strikes, a Hawaiian coup, questions about the continuation of the gold standard, perpetuation of tariffs, and debates over the rightful place of economic populism in the party’s agenda. Senik also describes a man who was plagued by the peculiarities of his personality, including a stubborn sanctimony that created frictions within his party and failed to sustain momentum for his agenda after his first term. As Senik writes, Cleveland left office a “marginal figure,” and continues to remain so to this day, despite the efforts of this book to reverse that characterization.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews