Rating: 
Summary: A great president, but an average biography
Review: Perhaps it was my mistake to read this book and Jeffer's An Honest President back-to-back. I thought that both books suffered from an excess of personal judgment by the authors that would be out-of-place in a just-the-facts-ma'am biography. In many cases, the author's opinions come across as little more than talk-radio ax-grinding against the moral failings and craven panderings of recent administrations. (Jeffers weighs in only against Clinton; Brodsky is at least more ecumenical, finding fault with Reagan, Bush and Clinton in comparison to the vaunted Cleveland.)
Rating:
Summary: A great president, but an average biography
Review: Perhaps it was my mistake to read this book and Jeffer's An Honest President back-to-back. I thought that both books suffered from an excess of personal judgment by the authors that would be out-of-place in a just-the-facts-ma'am biography. In many cases, the author's opinions come across as little more than talk-radio ax-grinding against the moral failings and craven panderings of recent administrations. (Jeffers weighs in only against Clinton; Brodsky is at least more ecumenical, finding fault with Reagan, Bush and Clinton in comparison to the vaunted Cleveland.)
Rating:
Summary: Buffalo's President
Review: The City of Buffalo is much like its most famous historical figure, Grover Cleveland. Both were at their peak prominence a little more than a century ago, though maybe just a little forgotten by the rest of the world today. Both are conservative but Democratic. And words like "character" apply to both. Alyn Brodsky's 2000 biography, which focuses on that quality of Cleveland is as good a place as any for Buffalonians to find out a little more about the only elected president to emerge from the Queen City.
Cleveland is probably the least-written about two-term president. Though he is remembered largely as being the only chief executive to serve two non-consecutive terms, only history buffs remember much about what he actually did. This is largely due to the fact that he served in between two great American crises, the Civil War and World War I. At first blush, the issues of the day - bimetallism, tariff reform, the Pullman's strike to seem like the most inaccessible types of ancient history...at first. Upon closer inspection, the past has much to say about the present.
The story of Cleveland and his presidency seem for all the world like the story of Bill Clinton: Both were elected to the presidency as governors after surviving sex scandals and enduring charges of draft dodging (Cleveland famously fathered a child out of wedlock and paid a substitute to serve in his place during the Civil War). Three of the biggest issues for both presidents were free trade (Cleveland had the tarrif, Clinton had NAFTA and GATT), imperialism, recession, and what to do with a big budget surplus. Both presidencies ended with Republican candidates winning the White House without winning the popular vote (that's how Cleveland lost his first bid for a second term).
While readers might be struck by the similarities, author Brodsky doesn't see them. He writes that Cleveland has "absolutely nothing in common" with Clinton (or for that matter Nixon, Reagan or the first President Bush). That's the kind of overstatement that mars this book's all-too-frequent editorial side-comments. But what Brodsky had in mind had less to do with the obvious historical parallels and more to do with his reading of Cleveland's character. Cleveland was principled to the point of stubbornness-actually way past that point. Brodsky writes that Cleveland "opposed just about everything that was finding favor with the majority of American people." He opposed the free coinage of silver, favored a more humane and respectful Indian policy than was popular at the time, did not believe in manifest destiny and at key moments helped big business management crush labor protests. Still, Cleveland, along with Andrew Jackson and Franklin Roosevelt was one of only thee men in history to win more popular votes than his rivals in three consecutive races.
Cleveland's most endearing trait was his honesty. It is this quality that separates him, in Brodsky's view, from modern presidents. Rather than denying rumors about an "illegitimate" child, Cleveland admitted the truth and the potentially negative campaign issue became a positive. To Republican refrains of, "Ma ma, where's my pa?" Victorious Democrats chanted, "Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!"
Of course Cleveland is remembered in Buffalo because he lived here. A former Erie County Sheriff, Cleveland was also the last Buffalo mayor to subsequently get elected to higher office. Amazingly, within the two years after being first elected mayor, Cleveland was elected governor and then president. From the one of the fastest rises in American political history, Cleveland came to dominate American politics for 12 years.
Cleveland had no great war for which he is remembered. He was more a manager of government than innovator with it and thus is not especially remembered for a legislative program. Nor did his somewhat staid personality - in stark contrast to that of his contemporary, Theodore Roosevelt-leave a larger than life impression. But Cleveland is Buffalo's president: an honest, competent chief executive who worked hard on behalf of his community and nation. Though sometimes a bit too effusive in his praise, Brodsky does right by Cleveland and reminds us Western New Yorkers another story from our proud heritage.
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Rating: 
Summary: A President with Integrity
Review: This highly readable biography of President Grover Cleveland could be mistaken for a flattering book circulated during a candidate's political campaign. There are no warts, no blemishes, no clay feet -- at least none which Mr. Brodsky has disclosed about this President. Well, he did describe Mr. Cleveland's gross obesity, but not critically.Readers who know little about the man who was both the 22nd and 24th President of the US might have no grounds to challenge this very informative portrait of a man whose great integrity is a milestone in American history. The portrayal could very well be scrupulously accurate: an exceptional man -- one who valued truth, honesty and fairness in his personal life as well as in the conduct of his political offices. The book narrates in good reporting detail the many crises during which Mr. Cleveland constantly held to his high principles with an iron will. Here was a man who earns the reader's respect and admiration. Would that today's politicians hold President Cleveland as their example. What Mr. Brodsky has written -- and he has done it very well, indeed -- may be all one needs to know about Grover Cleveland. One is left with the encouraging hope that a man or woman gifted with a strong character, who is untainted by corruption, can be elected and can hold office for the good and gratitude of the nation. Though almost forgotten by history, this biography reveals President Cleveland as an unsung American hero, a man of sterling character, someone to be admired and emulated. The book was brisky written, chatty at times, but more important: it was inspriring and well worth the time to read .
Rating:
Summary: A President with Integrity
Review: This highly readable biography of President Grover Cleveland could be mistaken for a flattering book circulated during a candidate's political campaign. There are no warts, no blemishes, no clay feet -- at least none which Mr. Brodsky has disclosed about this President. Well, he did describe Mr. Cleveland's gross obesity, but not critically. Readers who know little about the man who was both the 22nd and 24th President of the US might have no grounds to challenge this very informative portrait of a man whose great integrity is a milestone in American history. The portrayal could very well be scrupulously accurate: an exceptional man -- one who valued truth, honesty and fairness in his personal life as well as in the conduct of his political offices. The book narrates in good reporting detail the many crises during which Mr. Cleveland constantly held to his high principles with an iron will. Here was a man who earns the reader's respect and admiration. Would that today's politicians hold President Cleveland as their example. What Mr. Brodsky has written -- and he has done it very well, indeed -- may be all one needs to know about Grover Cleveland. One is left with the encouraging hope that a man or woman gifted with a strong character, who is untainted by corruption, can be elected and can hold office for the good and gratitude of the nation. Though almost forgotten by history, this biography reveals President Cleveland as an unsung American hero, a man of sterling character, someone to be admired and emulated. The book was brisky written, chatty at times, but more important: it was inspriring and well worth the time to read .
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