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especially those of [[Tammany Hall]] (the Democratic organization in New York City), by refusing to give out patronage jobs sought by local party leaders trying to reward their best workers. Cleveland cooperated with Republican leader [[Theodore Roosevelt]] to clean up state politics.  

especially those of [[Tammany Hall]] (the Democratic organization in New York City), by refusing to give out patronage jobs sought by local party leaders trying to reward their best workers. Cleveland cooperated with Republican leader [[Theodore Roosevelt]] to clean up state politics.  

==Elected president 1884==

==Elected president 1884==

Reform was the theme at the national level in 1884, and Cleveland, governor of the largest and closest state, won the Democratic nomination for president as a new face with a sterling reputation The GOP nominated long-time Congressional leader [[James G. Blaine]] for president.  Blaine was an able legislator, but was surrounded by whiffs of scandal. A Republican faction calling itself "Mugwumps" broke with Blaine and supported Cleveland.  

Reform was the theme at the national level in 1884, and Cleveland, governor of the largest and closest state, won the Democratic nomination for president as a new face with a sterling reputation "We love him most for the enemies he has made,"  exulted one delegate. The GOP nominated long-time Congressional leader [[James G. Blaine]] for president.  Blaine was an able legislator, but was surrounded by whiffs of scandal. A Republican faction calling itself "Mugwumps" broke with Blaine and supported Cleveland.  

The election of 1884 saw an intensely fought very close contest that turned on the electoral vote of New York. Cleveland crusaded against the corruptions represented by long-time Washington insider [[James G. Blaine]], the GOP candidate.  Part of Blaine's problem centered around a suspicious letter which terminated with the words, "burn this letter."  Blaine's detractors marched and chanted, "Burn, Burn, Burn this letter!"  The discovery that Cleveland -- a bachelor--was paying child support gave the GOP a moralistic counter-issue of its own, and a chant, “Ma! Ma! Where’s my Pa?”<ref> Several men could have been the father; Cleveland, the wealthiest, paid the child support perhaps was not the father. </ref> Blaine had made inroads into the Irish Catholic vote, normally 90+% Democratic, but lost it at the last minute. Cleveland's narrow margin in New York proved decisive, as he won the national popular vote by only 29,000 votes. Victory gave Democrats a new response, "Gone to the White House! Ha Ha Ha!"   

The election of 1884 saw an intensely fought very close contest that turned on the electoral vote of New York. Cleveland crusaded against the corruptions represented by long-time Washington insider [[James G. Blaine]], the GOP candidate.  Part of Blaine's problem centered around a suspicious letter which terminated with the words, "burn this letter."  Blaine's detractors marched and chanted, "Burn, Burn, Burn this letter!"  The discovery that Cleveland -- a bachelor--was paying child support gave the GOP a moralistic counter-issue of its own, and a chant, “Ma! Ma! Where’s my Pa?”<ref> Several men could have been the father; Cleveland, the wealthiest, paid the child support perhaps was not the father. </ref> Blaine had made inroads into the Irish Catholic vote, normally 90+% Democratic, but lost it at the last minute. Cleveland's narrow margin in New York proved decisive, as he won the national popular vote by only 29,000 votes. Victory gave Democrats a new response, "Gone to the White House! Ha Ha Ha!"   

===Actions as President===

===Actions as President===

Cleveland faced a Republican congress, and energetically vetoed hundreds of private pension bills based on dubious wartime claims.  He vetoed a bill to give $10,000 to distribute seed grain among drought-stricken farmers in Texas, and said: "Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character."  

Cleveland refused to replace efficient Republican office-holders, angering patronage hungry local Democratic leaders but gaining the admiration of reformers. To signal the end of the Civil War era, he appointed two southerners to the cabinet, and returned Confederate battle flags that had been captured during the war.  Union veterans were angry at him, an anger that intensified when he energetically vetoed hundreds of private pension bills based on dubious wartime claims.  He vetoed a bill to give $10,000 to distribute seed grain among drought-stricken farmers in Texas, and said: "Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character."  

In 1886 Geronimo was captured by the Army, ending the Indian wars.  In October 1886, Cleveland dedicated the [[Statue of Liberty]], a project for which he asked some federal funding.  In 1887 he signed the Interstate Commerce Act, passed unanimously by Congress in response to demands for some form of railroad regulation.  The Act had little or no regulatory impact, but did tend to bury the issue.  

In 1886 Geronimo was captured by the Army, ending the Indian wars.  In October 1886, Cleveland dedicated the [[Statue of Liberty]], a project for which he asked some federal funding.  In 1887 he signed the Interstate Commerce Act, passed unanimously by Congress in response to demands for some form of railroad regulation.  The Act had little or no regulatory impact, but did tend to bury the issue.