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--> --> Sept. 11: Cleveland: the truthful president By Jeff Cheek The presidential campaign of 1884 was a classic contest between a candidate with a spotless public record, but a questionable private life and a man who amassed a fortune by doing favors for railroad barons. However, his private life was supposedly beyond reproach. The Democrat, New York Governor Cleveland was "Grover the Good." The Republicans ran James G. Blaine, "The Continental Liar from Maine." Cleveland, a bachelor, was nominated in July 1884. Soon after, a scandal broke. As a young man, ha had fathered an illegitimate child. His advisors panicked, but Cleveland told them, "Above all else, tell the truth." The truth was that he had had an affair with a widow, Maria Halpin. She gave birth to a son. Cleveland accepted responsibility by agreeing to pay child support, but would not acknowledge paternity. There were at least four other men who shared Maria's bed, but they were all married men. A scandal would destroy those marriages. Cleveland was the only bachelor so he was less vulnerable. The young boy grew up to be a gifted physician under another name. The scandal was mitigated when it was learned that Blaine had married Harriet Stanwood on March 29, 1851. Their baby was born three months later. Blaine lied, claiming that they married June 30, 1850, in Kentucky but remarried in 1851 as the Kentucky marriage might not be legal in Maine! Republican Mark Twain announced he was supporting Cleveland. He made his living telling lies, and he refused to support a better liar than he was! Another charge against Cleveland was that he had not fought for the Union in the Civil War. The truth: The three Cleveland boys drew straws. Two joined the Army. Grover drew the shortest straw. He stayed home to take care of their widowed mother and hired a substitute. This issue faded when it turned out Blaine was not a Civil War veteran either. Blaine's biggest handicap was his record. He once wrote financier Jay Cooke asking $91,500 for some useless railroad stock. The line was facing bankruptcy. "My position will enable me to render you valuable services. Are you not willing to aid me?" He got $64,000 for the stock. Another time, he wrote defending his record, but ended the letter by instructing the editor to "BURN THIS LETTER." Those three words became a Democratic chant at rallies. The American people chose wisely. Cleveland won 219 Electoral College votes to 182 for Blaine. Two years later he married Frances Folsom. It was a happy marriage, but when he ran for re-election against Benjamin Harrison in 1888, he won the popular vote but lost the electoral vote 168 to 233, partly because rumors were spread that he was unfaithful. Frances was furious! When they left the White House, she instructed the servants, "Take care of the furniture. We will be back in four years." And they were. In 1892, Cleveland won the popular vote and the Electoral College, 277 to 145 against President Harrison. Cleveland loved white cake with chocolate frosting. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 pound sweet chocolate, broken in half 1 teaspoon rum 1 tablespoon water 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar PREPARATION: Melt half chocolate, water and rum over low fire, then add butter. Remove, stir well and spread over cake. Decorate with shaved chocolate curls from the remaining chocolate, then sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Even Senator Blaine would like this frosting! Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing