OBV. Grover Cleveland. Bust of the President. REV. Within an oak wreath: Inaugurated President of the United States March 4, 1885. Second Term March 4, 1893. By C. E. Barber. STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND 1837-Born March 18, at Caldwell, N.J., the son of Richard F. and Anna (Neal) Cleveland. Self-educated, Cleveland's youth was spent in Fayetteville and Clinton, N.Y., where his father served as a Presbyterian minister. 1854-Became a clerk and an assistant teacher in the Institution for the Blind, in New York City. 1855-59-Became a clerk with the law firm of Rogers, Bowen & Rogers, in Buffalo; studied law and was admitted to the bar. 1863-Entered politics; was appointed assistant district attorney for Erie County, N.Y. Held this office for 3 years. 1865-Ran for district attorney, but was defeated; became a law partner of the firm, Lanning, Cleveland & Folsom. 1869-Elected sheriff for Erie County. Politically, this did not add to his popularity; he had to hang two murderers. 1873-Formed the law partnership of Bass, Cleveland & Bissell. 1881-82-Elected mayor of Buffalo on the Democratic ticket. He instituted vigorous reforms in the city and achieved a reputation for integrity. This led to his election as Governor of New York in 1882. 1884-Nominated by the Democratic National Convention, Cleveland ran for and was elected to the Presidency, defeating James G. Blaine. The new President became known as a supporter of civil service reform, "hard money" and, especially, lower tariffs which he advocated in his celebrated message to Congress in December 1887. 1886 Married in the White House to Frances Folsom, daughter of his former law partner. Five children were born of this marriage. 1888 Was defeated by Benjamin Harrison in the presi dential election, following a campaign in which the tariff was the leading issue. 1889 Retiring from office, Cleveland resumed the prac tice of law and settled in New York City. 1892-As the 1892 election approached, Cleveland's candidacy was again suggested, and he received the Democratic nomination for the third time. His former competitor was in the field, but this time. was decisively beaten. 1893-President Cleveland commenced his second term in March 1893. He took office at a time when the country was faced with a financial crisis occasioned by a lowering of the gold reserve and other factors. He obtained repeal of silver purchases required under the Sherman Act which had expanded the currency in circulation, through issuance of certificates which at the time were redundant to the monetary system. He achieved a reduction in tariffs and passage of an income tax law (which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in 1895). He was also credited for limiting Civil War pension log-rolling. Notwithstanding labor trouble and a severe depression, Cleveland refused to interfere in business matters and rejected demands for heavy work relief expenditures. In 1894, to move the mails, Cleveland sent Federal troops to break the Pullman strike. In foreign affairs, Cleveland refused to permit American aid to rebel movements in Hawaii and Cuba. Through friendly arbitration, he settled a border dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela, thereby strengthening the Monroe Doctrine. 1896-Supported the gold faction of the Democratic Party; lost renomination to the silverite, William Jennings Bryan after the latter's "Cross of Gold" speech stampeded the Chicago Democratic Con vention. 1897-Cleveland returned to private life, where he served President Succession Act-January 19, 1886, 24 Stat. 1. 1853-Admitted to the bar: married Caroline Lavinia Scott, October 20. 1854-Moved to Indianapolis, Ind., and commenced the practice of law. 1857-Elected city attorney. 1860-Elected and reelected (1864) reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana on the Republican ticket, Harrison's first active appearance in the political field. 1862-64-Commissioned as second lieutenant; recruited Company A of the 70th Indiana Regiment; became its colonel. Participated with his regiment in various engagements during Gen. Don Carlos Buell's campaigns in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1862 and 1863; took part in Gen. W. T. Sherman's march on Atlanta in 1864, and in the Nashville campaign of the same year; was transferred early in 1865 to Sherman's army in its march through the Carolinas. As the commander of a brigade, he served with distinction in the Battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and Nashville in 1864. 1865 Was duly mustered out of the service June 8, 1865, not however, until he had been breveted a brigadier general of volunteers for "ability and gallantry in command of brigade." 1867-80-Engaged in the practice of law; continued his interest in public affairs and local philanthropics, and became active in the Republican Party activities. 1876-Declined a nomination for Governor of Indiana on the Republican ticket, consenting to run only after the regular nominee had withdrawn: lost the election, by a small majority. 1879 -Appointed a member of the Mississippi River Commission by President Rutherford B. Hayes. 1880-As Chairman of the Indiana delegation to the Republican National Convention Harrison played a key role in securing the presidential nomination for Garfield. 1880-Elected to the U.S. Senate, he served from 1881 to 1887. 1881-While a Senator, Harrison was chairman of the Committee on Territories and took an active part in urging the admission as States, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, which finally came into the Union during his Presidency. He served also on the Committee on Military and Indian Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and others. He advocated the tariff views of his party, the enlargement of the U.S. Navy, the reform of the Civil Service, regulation of the railroads, and labor legislation. Harri son opposed the pension veto messages of President Cleveland. 1884-Delegate to the Republican Convention. 1888 Harrison was nominated for the Presidency at the Republican National Convention and was elected over President Cleveland in a campaign in which tariff was the principal issue. Harrison's administration was distinguished by the following: The first Pan American Conference to promote trade, held in Washington, D.C., 1889. The Tariff Act of 1890 which raised tariff duties, with the attendant feature of reciprocity. The Sherman Act of 1890 which provided for An international monetary conference and estab- 1892-Renominated for the Presidency but was defeated 1893-94 Delivered a course of lectures on constitutional law at Leland Stanford Jr. University. 1896 Married Mrs. Mary Scott (Lord) Dimmick, a niece of his first wife, who died in 1892. 1899-Appeared as leading counsel for Venezuela in the arbitration of its boundary dispute with Great Britain, before an international arbitration tribunal in Paris. 1899-Appointed a member of the peace conference held at The Hague and became a member of the International Board of Arbitration. 1901-Died of pneumonia on March 13, and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Ind. Sherman Silver Purchase Act-July 14, 1890, 26 Stat. 289. Sherman Anti-Trust Act-July 2, 1890, 26 Stat. 209. McKinley Tariff Act-October 1, 1890, 26 Stat. 567. Eight Hour Day (Public Works)-August 1, 1892, 27 Stat. 340. Railroad Safety Appliance Act-March 2, 1893, 27 Stat. 531. OBV. William McKinley. Bust of the President. REV. Inaugurated President of the United States March 4, 1897. Second term March 4, 1901. Assassinated September 6, 1901. Died September 14, 1901. To left, Columbia standing, mourning, her right hand resting on a shield bearing Presidential eagle; below, palm branch and wreath with crossed ribbons. By C. E. Barber. WILLIAM MCKINLEY 1843-McKinley was born on January 29, in Niles, Trum bull County, Ohio, son of William McKinley, owner of charcoal furnaces. and Nancy Allison McKinley. 1860-McKinley was educated at Union Seminary, Poland, Ohio, and at the age of 17 entered Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. 1861-Forced by illness to discontinue his college educa tion, he began to teach in public schools while a clerk in a Poland Post Office. On June 11 he enlisted in Company E of the 23d Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private and served under Rutherford B. Hayes. 1862-On April 15, while in camp at Fayetteville in west ern Virginia, he was promoted to commissary sergeant. On September 17, for his performances at Antietam, he was appointed second lieutenant of Company D. 1864-He was promoted to first lieutenant and later, for his services at Winchester, he was promoted to captain. While on the staff of Gen. George Crook. he participated in the Battles of Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. 1865 For McKinley's bravery and his valuable services. he was breveted major. At the finish of the war McKinley began the study of law at Youngstown. Ohio, and completed his studies at the Albany. N.Y., law school. 1867-Admitted to the bar, McKinley began practice at Canton, Ohio. 1870-Became the prosecuting attorney of Stark County: spoke against the "Greenback" craze. 1871-Married Ida Saxton. 1877-91-Elected to Congress as the Republican repre sentative from the 17th Ohio District and served from March 4, 1877 to March 3, 1883, and again from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1891. 1878-Took part in the debates over the protective tariff (Wood Tariff bill). Voted for the Bland-Allison silver bill. 1888-Chairman of the Committee on Resolutions at the Republican National Convention; a strong supporter of John Sherman for the Presidency. 1889-Appointed chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Supported civil service laws. Became the Republican leader leader in the House of Representatives. 1890-October 1, the McKinley bill was approved by the President, which bill obtained for McKinley an international reputation as a foremost champion of the protective tariff. 1891-McKinley was elected Governor of Ohio. Controlled the labor riots and personally directed the relief work for the starving miners of the Hocking Valley district. 1892-Was appointed the permanent president of the National Republican Convention which met in Minneapolis. 1893—McKinley was reelected Governor of Ohio. 1896-97-In the National Republican Convention held in St. Louis, he was nominated for the Presidency on the first ballot. Defeated the Democratic candidate, William Jennings Bryan, to become President. 1898-April 25, upon McKinley's recommendation, Congress declared war on Spain. Earlier, in response to an aroused public sentiment and, finally on instruction from Congress, he intervened in the Cuban Civil War, which led to the sinking of the MAINE (February 15, 1898). 1899-Selected a delegation to represent the United States in the Hague Peace Conference. Peace treaty with Annexed the Hawaiian Islands and formed the Puerto Rico, the Philippine Archipelago and Guam were transferred by Spain to the United States. Cuba came under American jurisdiction pending the establishment of an independent government there. The Tripartite Goverment (German, British, and French) of the Samoan Islands was discontinued. The United States annexed these Islands east of 171°, including the harbor of Pago-Pago. 1900-Elected President, defeating William Jennings Bryan, for a second term. Received the largest popular majority ever given a candidate for President up to that time. 1901-September 5, delivered an address at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y., suggesting lower tariffs. September 6, while holding a reception in the Hawaii Annexation Res.-July 7, 1898, 30 Stat. 750. Recognition of Cuban Independence (Res.)-April 20, 1898, 30 Gold Standard Act-March 14, 1900, 31 Stat. 45. Platt Amendment (Cuban-American relations)-March 2, 1901, 31 Stat. 897. |