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Frances Clara Cleveland Preston (née Folsom, christened Frank Clara; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was the first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 until 1897, as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. She was the first woman to serve in this role during two nonconsecutive terms and the youngest first lady in American history.

Key Information

When Folsom was an infant, she first met Grover Cleveland. Her father, Oscar Folsom, was also a close friend to Cleveland. When her father died in 1875, Cleveland became the executor of the estate, and Cleveland paid off the family’s outstanding debts and provided for the well-being of Frances and her mother, Emma. After graduating Wells College she married Grover Cleveland while he was the incumbent president. When he lost reelection in 1888, the Clevelands went into private life for four years and began having children. After Grover Cleveland was elected president again in 1892, Frances dedicated much of her time in the second term to her children.

The Clevelands had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood. Cleveland became involved in education advocacy, serving on the Wells College board, supporting women's education, and organizing the construction of kindergartens. Grover Cleveland died in 1908, and in 1913, Frances married Thomas J. Preston Jr.. She continued to work in education activism after leaving the White House, becoming involved with Princeton University. During World War I, she advocated military preparedness. She died in 1947 and was buried alongside her first husband in Princeton Cemetery.

Early life

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Childhood

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A two-story brick house
Frances Folsom's childhood home in Buffalo, New York

Born in Buffalo, New York, on July 21, 1864,[1]: 140  Frances Clara Folsom[2]: 13  was the first child of Emma (née Harmon) and Oscar Folsom. Her only sibling, Nellie Augusta, died in infancy in 1872.[3] Her father was a lawyer who had a law partnership with Grover Cleveland.[4]: 243  She and Cleveland first met when Folsom was still an infant;[5]: 268 [6]: 106  he was a regular presence in her childhood, and he bought her her first baby carriage.[2]: 15  Although the Folsoms were financially secure when she was born,[7]: 144  her father's gambling habits and his penchant for helping others with his money caused them financial trouble as she grew.[2]: 13 

Folsom attended school at Madame Brecker's French Kindergarten and Miss Bissell's School for Young Ladies,[4]: 245  both of which were among Buffalo's best-regarded schools and guaranteed her an education above that of most women in her time.[7]: 145 [8] When not in school, she regularly spent time with Cleveland,[9]: 230  known to her as "Uncle Cleve".[1]: 140  As a child, she went by the name Frank, and she was christened under this name as a teenager. The name sometimes caused her problems when she was assigned to boys' activities in school.[4]: 243 

Folsom's father died in a carriage accident on July 23, 1875.[2]: 13  Cleveland was given charge of his estate[3][2]: 15  and became Folsom's unofficial guardian.[1]: 140 [5]: 268  Folsom and her mother moved to live with relatives, first with Folsom's aunt in Saint Paul, Minnesota and then with her grandmother in Medina, New York. They eventually returned to Buffalo and lived in different boarding houses until they found a home.[2]: 16 

Wells College

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When Folsom was 14, she joined the Presbyterian Church, to which she remained devoted throughout her life.[2]: 17  She attended Central High School in Buffalo,[2]: 16  where she was briefly engaged to a seminary student, but the engagement was broken when they decided to remain friends.[4]: 246  Folsom left Central High School in October 1881, before her schooling was finished.[2]: 17 

Although Folsom had not finished school, Cleveland used his authority as the mayor of Buffalo to obtain for her a certificate of completion and entry into Wells College in Aurora, New York as a sophomore.[2]: 17  Here she learned etiquette and manners from Helen Fairchild Smith, and she quickly became a prominent student at the school, taking her place at the center of its social life.[2]: 19  At Wells, she became interested in photography and political science, and she participated in the Phoenix Society, a campus debate club.[3][10] Folsom received two more marriage proposals at Wells, both on the same day. She accepted one of them, but this engagement was also ended by a decision to remain friends.[4]: 246 

Cleveland, who became governor of New York at this time, maintained correspondence with Folsom while she attended Wells.[1]: 140  He visited her, sent her flowers, and brought her on tours of New York when her schedule permitted.[2]: 21  Folsom was unable to attend Cleveland's presidential inauguration as it conflicted with her final exams, but she visited him at the White House during spring break some weeks later.[4]: 247  Washington, D.C., left a positive impression on her, and she accompanied the new president on his nightly walks in the East Room while she stayed at the White House.[2]: 23  Folsom was also permitted to ascend the Washington Monument before its opening, where she met former first lady Harriet Lane.[4]: 247 

Engagement

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Folsom graduated from Wells on June 20, 1885,[2]: 3  and she spent the summer at her grandfather's home in Wyoming County, New York.[11] Cleveland proposed marriage by letter in August 1885, while Folsom was visiting a friend in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[1]: 140 [4]: 248  After accepting, Folsom accompanied her mother and her cousin on a year-long tour of Europe.[4]: 248  Despite Folsom's eagerness to wed, her mother and her future groom both insisted that she take the opportunity to travel and contemplate her future before marriage.[4]: 248 [7]: 146  Everyone involved agreed to keep the planned wedding a secret,[5]: 269  and the president's sister Rose Cleveland served as White House hostess in the meantime.[5]: 266  Rumors of their engagement were initially dismissed as gossip, as speculation of the president's love life was common. Popular gossip considered Frances' mother to be a more likely partner.[7]: 146 [6]: 106 [12]: 167  Rumors grew after reporters caught up with the Folsoms and found them shopping for a wedding gown.[4]: 249 [5]: 269 

By the time of the Folsoms' return voyage, reporters were tracking their whereabouts, and they were forced to board their ship home in secret.[4]: 249  They were greeted by the press upon returning to the United States, and rumors of Cleveland's interest were seemingly confirmed when representatives of the president took the Folsoms away. It was only the next night that the White House officially announced that the president intended to marry Frances Folsom.[9]: 250  Cleveland visited Folsom in New York while he was in the city attending a Decoration Day parade on May 30, 1886,[4]: 250  and the Folsom women took a train to Washington, D.C., on June 1.[1]: 141  Media attention quickly turned Folsom into a celebrity.[9]: 253 

First Lady of the United States

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Wedding

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A sketch of Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom in wedding attire with a crowd of guests
"The President's Wedding" by Thure de Thulstrup

The wedding of Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom took place in the Blue Room of the White House on June 2, 1886.[9]: 253  The president wished for a quiet wedding, so only 31 guests were invited,[1]: 141  and the press was explicitly denied entry.[9]: 253  Hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside of the White House to celebrate.[2]: 9  Frances Cleveland was the first presidential spouse to marry in the White House,[1]: 141  and she was the youngest presidential spouse in American history.[4]: 250  She was 21 years old, and her groom was 49.[5]: 269  After their wedding, the Clevelands went on honeymoon for a week in Deer Park, Maryland,[1]: 141  where they were closely followed by reporters who intruded on their privacy.[2]: 25  After returning to the White House, they held two wedding receptions, one of which was open to the public.[4]: 251 

First term

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Cleveland in a formal gown (1886)

Frances Cleveland was immediately popular as first lady, attracting unprecedented publicity. She and Grover drew enough attention that the Clevelands chose not to use the living quarters of the White House. Instead, they moved to their private residence, the "Red Top", to escape from the public and the media.[1]: 142 [6]: 106  Each evening, the couple drove to their private home to oversee improvements.[4]: 251  Cleveland worked with socialite Flora Payne to better prepare for a role in high society.[2]: 29  She also became close friends with poet Richard Watson Gilder and his wife Helena, and accompanied them in meeting prominent writers of the time.[2]: 40–44  Cleveland stayed involved with Wells College as well, taking a seat on its board of trustees in 1887.[1]: 143 

Cleveland maintained an openness with the public that was not shared by her husband or by her predecessor Rose Cleveland.[5]: 270 [2]: 31  To accommodate all who wished to visit the White House, she hosted many social events on Saturdays to ensure that they did not conflict with the schedules of working women.[6]: 107  Cleveland received countless letters from the American people, many of them asking her to influence the president's granting of patronage jobs. She read all of the mail that she received, but she sought assistance from the president's secretaries in replying,[2]: 39  eventually hiring her friend Minnie Alexander as a personal secretary.[1]: 142  Her openness extended to the White House staff as well, with whom she maintained close relationships.[13]

Cleveland was credited with an increase in the president's sociability after their marriage. The president set aside time in his busy schedule to be with his wife, attending the theater and going on carriage rides.[2]: 30  While Cleveland had considerable influence in their home life, she had little involvement in the political aspects of her husband's administration.[12]: 170  Her popularity nonetheless served her husband's administration well. Many of the president's political opponents acknowledged the difficulty of attacking the administration when the first lady had such support, and critics were careful not to attack her directly lest they provoke backlash. She was once even sent as the president's representative during the Great Tariff Debate of 1888 to quietly observe from the visitors' gallery.[9]: 262–263 

In 1887, the Clevelands toured the United States. Frances endured a severe insect bite and a black eye, and she spent so much time shaking hands that she needed to use an ice pack each night.[1]: 142  Crowds of people became a constant on their trip, often preventing their carriage from moving.[4]: 253  Their visit to Chicago was attended by about 100,000 people, with the crowd becoming so large that Cleveland had to be taken away by aides for her own safety while police and soldiers attempted to control the crowd.[4]: 252  Cleveland avoided such publicized appearances for the rest of her time as first lady.[4]: 253 

Toward the end of the president's first term, opponents began crafting rumors to diminish her reputation.[9]: 265  One rumor suggested that Grover was abusive toward Frances. In response, Frances praised her husband and harshly condemned the rumor as a political smear.[5]: 270  For the first lady to speak so openly about such a topic was unprecedented.[6]: 107  Another rumor suggested that she was unfaithful to her husband, having an affair with newspaper editor Henry Watterson.[3] She remained a prominent figure when her husband sought reelection in the 1888 presidential election. The 1888 Democratic National Convention was the first such convention in which a first lady was recognized during a speech.[9]: 267 

Private life

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Grover Cleveland, Frances Cleveland, and Elisa Benedict stand on the deck of a boat
Cleveland with her husband and Elias Cornelius Benedict on the Oneida steam-yacht in 1890

Cleveland's tenure as first lady ended after her husband lost his reelection campaign, but she correctly predicted to the staff that they would return the following term. The Clevelands left the White House, sold the Red Top house, and moved to Madison Avenue in New York.[1]: 143  Cleveland struggled with the transition from public to private life, having never run a private household of her own.[2]: 62  She underwent a period of depression over the following months, and she retreated to the Gilders' cottage in Marion, Massachusetts.[2]: 66  The Clevelands found a cottage to rent in the area,[4]: 255  and they eventually purchased the Gray Gables summer home in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, where the couple developed their own private home life. Here they often hosted close friends, including the Gilders and actor Joseph Jefferson. Cleveland found comfort in this house, where she and her husband could lead a relatively normal life.[2]: 72 

Despite no longer being the first lady, Cleveland remained in the public spotlight.[9]: 273  In between her tenures as first lady, Cleveland took on charity work and grew more involved in New York social life through her charitable projects.[2]: 72  Although they occasionally worked together on these projects, Frances and Grover for the most part led separate social lives after leaving the White House.[2]: 66  Among her charitable endeavors was the promotion of kindergartens in New York, serving as the vice president of Gilder's New York Kindergarten Association.[2]: 70  Frances received further attention when she became a mother with the birth of Ruth Cleveland in 1891.[9]: 273  She dedicated herself to Ruth, taking on many of the roles that a woman of her status would have typically given to a nurse, such as bathing the child.[2]: 74 

Grover ran for president again in the 1892 presidential election. Although he never approved of it, Frances' image was often used prominently in campaign material.[1]: 144  Her social connections and press coverage were valuable for the Cleveland campaign in New York. Her charity work in the state and her friendship with the Gilders enabled the Clevelands to build connections with New York's Four Hundred society and helped win over disaffected Republicans. These factors contributed to Grover winning in his home state, which he had failed to do in 1888. Nonetheless, he disapproved of any involvement his wife had in the political aspects of his career.[2]: 77–78  After Grover was reelected president, the Clevelands left their home on Madison Avenue, spending the period before the inauguration living on 51st Street next door to their friend Elias Cornelius Benedict and then in Lakewood, New Jersey.[4]: 255 

Second term

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A portrait of Frances Cleveland
Cleveland in February 1897

The Clevelands returned to the White House on March 4, 1893.[2]: 80  Just as her husband was the first man ever to hold the presidency for two nonconsecutive terms, Frances became the first woman to serve as first lady nonconsecutively.[9]: 274  She was more apprehensive about taking the role for a second time, now being aware of all that it entailed.[2]: 83 [9]: 275  Her routine largely resembled that of her first tenure, including her evening drives with the president[2]: 82  and her Saturday receptions.[9]: 275  She received the familiar crowds that she had encountered during her previous time as first lady as well as heads of state, including one instance in which she disregarded precedent by meeting with Infanta Eulalia of Spain at her hotel.[1]: 144  She also continued her work in the establishment of kindergartens[2]: 82  and became involved with the Home for Friendless Colored Girls, visiting the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church with the group in 1896.[5]: 271 

Cleveland became increasingly protective of her husband during his second term—a reversal of their relationship in his first term. The president's work grew more difficult as the Panic of 1893 set in, and Cleveland found herself tending to her husband.[9]: 276  The president's health was in decline during his second term, and his wife became increasingly responsible for his well-being, encouraging him to exert himself less.[7]: 149  When it became apparent that the president had cancer, she took responsibility for keeping his condition a secret and tending to his health, despite her pregnancy with her second child, which at this time was in its seventh month. She provided excuses for his absences and wrote letters on his behalf, insisting that he was merely suffering from rheumatism.[9]: 276 

Cleveland had two more daughters as first lady: Esther Cleveland in 1893 and Marion Cleveland in 1895.[1]: 144  She gave birth to Esther in the White House, making her the only first lady to give birth in the presidential residence.[2]: 94  Much of her time was dedicated to raising her three children,[1]: 144  and she would even play on the floor with her children, to the shock of the servants who had never before seen a first lady act in such a manner.[9]: 277  Cleveland also took an interest in German culture during her husband's second term, learning to speak the language and hiring a German nurse so her children would learn it as well.[2]: 104  Cleveland's time was split between her responsibilities as first lady and those as a mother. Her second term was not as socially active as her first, and she hosted only one reception in the 1894 social season.[2]: 99 

The Clevelands were upset at the extent of press and public attention focused on their children, and they controversially had the White House closed to the public while they were present.[2]: 96  They purchased another private residence, Woodley, where they could live away from the White House.[1]: 144  Harassment from the public continued at their new residence, and Cleveland was particularly frightened by an incident in 1894 when three men were stalking their home. Fearing for her children's safety, she had the local police station post a guard at their home, choosing not to worry her husband with the news.[9]: 278 

Three thousand people attended the first lady's final Saturday reception to shake her hand.[9]: 281  Cleveland wept as she left the White House,[7]: 149  personally saying goodbye to each member of the staff.[2]: 107  This organized farewell would be replicated by future first ladies, becoming a tradition.[13] Despite her emotional departure, she later expressed relief that she was no longer first lady, remembering the rumors and falsehoods that had surrounded her.[9]: 300 

Widowhood and remarriage

[edit]
Frances and her husband stand side by side
Frances with her second husband Thomas J. Preston Jr. in 1913

After leaving the White House for the second time, the Clevelands bought Westland, a house in Princeton, New Jersey. They had two more children over the following years: Richard F. Cleveland and Francis Cleveland. Their firstborn daughter, Ruth, died of diphtheria in 1904 at their Gray Gables vacation home. Wishing to avoid memories of Ruth's illness and death, the Clevelands sold the home and purchased Intermont, a summer home in Tamworth, New Hampshire.[1]: 145 [4]: 257  They involved themselves with Princeton University and provided financial support for many Princeton students.[2]: 110  Grover died in 1908, and Frances was left to raise their four remaining children alone.[6]: 108  She refused the pension to which she was legally entitled as a widowed first lady,[1]: 145  but she did accept the franking privilege that was offered to presidential widows in 1909.[9]: 336 

In March 1909, Cleveland held a memorial service for her husband at Carnegie Hall.[2]: 122–123  After her husband's death, Cleveland became involved in a legal battle against writer Broughton Brandenburg, who had been paid by The New York Times for an article supposedly written by Grover Cleveland before his death, but which was found to be a forgery created by Brandenburg. She was unable to prevent its publication after she discovered that it was fraudulent. She testified against Brandenburg in court, and he was found guilty of grand larceny. The ordeal made national headlines.[2]: 120–121  Still grieving for her husband, Cleveland spent time away on a vacation to Europe with her family from September 1909 to May 1910.[2]: 122–127 

On October 29, 1912, Wells College announced that Cleveland intended to remarry. She was engaged to Thomas J. Preston Jr., professor of archaeology and acting president at Wells College, where she served as a trustee.[2]: 128–129  She was invited to return to the White House for a dinner to celebrate her engagement in January 1913, much to the excitement of the staff who had known her previously.[2]: 130–131 [9]: 336–337  As with her previous engagement, she was secretive about the process to limit media attention. Both Wells College and Princeton University congratulated them with the expectation that the couple would be active at their respective campuses.[2]: 130  Frances Cleveland and Thomas Preston were wed on February 10, 1913.[4]: 258  She was the first presidential widow to remarry.[6]: 108  After their marriage, the Prestons went on honeymoon in Florida.[2]: 134  Her second husband went on to teach at Princeton University, where she continued to be a prominent figure in campus social life.[7]: 149 

Later life

[edit]
Frances Cleveland stands holding a trowel
Cleveland with a trowel at a building foundation ceremony

The Prestons moved to London in April 1914.[3] Frances Cleveland-Preston was vacationing with her children and her mother in St. Moritz, Switzerland, when World War I began in August 1914. They returned to the United States via Genoa, arriving on October 1.[2]: 139–141  Cleveland-Preston and her husband worked with activists Solomon Stanwood Menken and Robert McNutt McElroy throughout the war to promote military preparedness.[2]: 142–143  She was appointed head of the speakers' bureau of the National Security League (NSL), where she was responsible for organizing rallies and other events to support the war effort.[4]: 258  She caused controversy by accusing some Americans of being unassimilated, and she resigned from her position on December 8, 1919, after backlash to what some in the NSL saw as overzealous views around patriotic education.[3]

Cleveland-Preston became more outspoken in her political beliefs as she grew older, taking a prominent position as an opponent of women's suffrage and serving as the vice president of the New Jersey Association Opposed to Woman's Suffrage from 1913 to 1920.[2]: 134  In the 1928 presidential election, she gave her only formal political endorsement to someone other than her first husband, endorsing Al Smith for president. She had met the Smiths and grew upset with the anti-Catholic attacks against them.[9]: 429  She was especially sympathetic to his wife Catherine, and Cleveland-Preston made a point of sitting with her at events as a show of support.[4]: 258 

Cleveland-Preston supported Franklin D. Roosevelt as president in 1932,[9]: 451  and she admired his wife Eleanor Roosevelt,[9]: 473  but she declined to vote for Roosevelt in 1940 due to her first husband's opposition to a third term.[9]: 506  She subsequently supported Harry S. Truman.[9]: 526  During the Truman presidency, she was invited to a luncheon at the White House where she met General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower is quoted as not recognizing her and asking where in the city she used to live, prompting her to respond that she had lived in the White House.[1]: 145 [7]: 150 

Later in life, Cleveland-Preston was afflicted by cataracts, and she learned Braille to use a Braille typewriter.[1]: 145  She continued to use it after her cataracts were removed, translating books into Braille for blind children.[2]: 161  She was involved with the theater community in her old age, sometimes traveling with the theater troupe founded by her son.[9]: 527  Cleveland-Preston attended the Princeton University bicentennial celebration in June 1946, which proved to be her final public appearance.[3] While staying at her son Richard's home for his 50th birthday in Baltimore, she died in her sleep at the age of 83 on October 29, 1947.[14] She holds the record as the First Lady with the longest post-presidency. She was buried in Princeton Cemetery next to President Cleveland.[15]

Legacy

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A painting of Frances Cleveland
Frances Cleveland by Anders Zorn, 1899

Cleveland was much-loved as first lady, drawing an unprecedented level of media and public attention.[1]: 142 [6]: 106  Her travels and activities were meticulously documented by reporters, to the president's ire.[2]: 33–34  The furor at times even became dangerous, with large crowds pushing to see her, threatening to topple into her and one another.[9]: 257  Her presence in the White House mitigated her husband's surly reputation and fostered an image of the president as a loving husband, and later as a loving father.[3]

Cleveland's reputation influenced the role of first lady for generations after her tenure.[6]: 106  The form letters used by Cleveland as first lady remained in use, eventually being redrafted by Eleanor Roosevelt.[9]: 459  In honor of Frances Cleveland, Cleveland Hall was constructed in 1911 on the Wells College campus.[16] Contemporaries ranked her among the greatest of first ladies.[2]: 59  In 1982, the Siena College Research Institute polled historians on the performances of first ladies; Cleveland was placed 13th out of 42, but the 2008 edition of the poll placed her 20th of 38.[17] The most recent survey (conducted in 2020) ranked her 26th of 40.[18]

Fashion and image

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Much of Cleveland's fame and media coverage focused on her appearance and her fashion,[4]: 258  and her fashion choices were widely imitated by women throughout the United States.[1]: 142 [6]: 106  These included her hairstyle, a low knot over a shaved nape, which became known as the á la Cleveland.[9]: 253  Her fashion choices and purchases influenced the behavior of consumers, and products she reportedly used enjoyed an increase in popularity. An article published by the Atlanta Constitution falsely stated that she no longer purchased bustles, causing a decline in their popularity.[12]: 173–174 [5]: 270  The Woman's Christian Temperance Union wrote to her requesting that she dress more modestly, fearing that she was setting a poor example. She declined to do so.[1]: 143 

Cleveland's immense popularity led to the extensive use of her image in advertising, and many products falsely claimed to have her endorsement. It became such a problem that a bill was introduced to Congress that would establish personality rights for women and criminalize the unauthorized use of a person's image, but the bill did not pass.[9]: 263–264  Cleveland updated her fashion choices during her husband's second term. Reflecting the trends of the Gay Nineties, she wore tight gowns, feather boas, and picture hats.[9]: 275  News articles on her activities continued to reference her sense of fashion in her old age.[2]: 162 

Politics

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Although she was personally interested in politics, Cleveland did not publicly support political causes while serving as first lady.[6]: 107 [7]: 148  One exception to her avoidance of politics was her interest in the political situation of the Republic of Hawaii, where she endorsed the restoration of monarchy with Princess Ka'iulani's claim to the throne as the heir apparent.[3] She also supported the temperance movement, personally abstaining from alcohol and donating to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union,[1]: 142  but she was unwilling to impose these beliefs on others and continued to serve wine at White House receptions.[6]: 107 

She worked with charity groups, including the Needlework Guild, which made clothes for the poor,[1]: 142  and the Christmas Club and the Colored Christmas Club, which gave gifts to children during the holiday season.[5]: 271  Cleveland's activism focused heavily on the arts, and she was a supporter of international copyright protections, attending a convention on the subject while first lady in 1888.[2]: 50–51  She also provided charitable support, sponsoring many aspiring musicians.[9]: 259 

Cleveland supported women's education and believed it to be an important step in gender equality.[1]: 143 [9]: 260  She did not support women's suffrage, and she avoided commenting on the controversial issue during her tenure as first lady.[5]: 271 [9]: 260  Like many female anti-suffragists of her generation, she felt that politics was an unfortunate duty to be avoided and that it risked women's control of the domestic sphere.[2]: 134–135  Despite this, she chose to vote in elections after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.[2]: 135–136 

References

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Frances Cleveland

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from Grokipedia
Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland Preston (July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was the wife of , the 22nd and 24th , and served as from June 1886 to March 1889 and from March 1893 to March 1897. Born in , as the only child of Oscar Folsom, a and close associate of , she became orphaned at age 11 and was placed under 's guardianship, fostering a long-standing relationship that culminated in their marriage when she was 21 and he was 49. Their wedding on June 2, 1886, marked the only such union for a sitting president, making her the youngest at the time and drawing widespread public fascination. As First Lady during Cleveland's non-consecutive terms, Frances Cleveland fulfilled traditional hosting duties with notable poise and popularity, presiding over social events, inaugurating the White House Easter Egg Roll, and becoming the first to deliver a child there—daughter Esther in 1893—while adhering to a domestic focus amid her husband's fiscal conservatism and tariff reforms. The couple had five children, including Ruth (for whom the Baby Ruth candy bar was named, despite popular myth linking it to Grover's baseball affinity), though Ruth died young in 1904; Frances balanced motherhood with public appearances that emphasized Victorian ideals of femininity and family stability. After Grover's death in 1908, she remarried Princeton professor Thomas J. Preston Jr. in 1913, continued advocacy for women's education including service on the Wells College board where she had studied, and lived quietly until her death in Baltimore at age 83. Her tenure exemplified the evolving yet constrained role of the First Lady in the Gilded Age, prioritizing personal virtue over political activism.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Frances Clara Folsom, known familiarly as "Frank," was born on July 21, 1864, in . She was the only child of Oscar Folsom, born November 8, 1837, and Emma Cornelia Harmon, born November 12, 1840. Oscar Folsom was a practicing in Buffalo, where he formed a close partnership with , who would later become Cleveland's guardian after Folsom's death. The Folsom family resided in Buffalo, maintaining a household reflective of the local professional class, with Oscar's legal career providing stability until his fatal carriage accident on July 23, 1875. Emma Harmon Folsom, widowed at age 34, remarried George B. Perrine in 1880, though the union dissolved shortly thereafter; she outlived her daughter, dying in 1915. Frances's upbringing in this environment exposed her early to the social circles of Buffalo's elite, influenced by her father's professional ties.

Guardianship Under Grover Cleveland

Frances Clara Folsom's father, Oscar Folsom, a and close associate of , died in a carriage accident on July 23, 1875, in , leaving his 11-year-old daughter without a primary guardian. , who had been Oscar Folsom's law partner since 1863 and had known Frances since her infancy, was promptly named of the estate by . In this capacity, he assumed responsibility for managing her financial affairs and providing ongoing support, effectively serving as her unofficial guardian despite not holding formal legal guardianship status. Following her father's death, Frances resided primarily with her grandmother in , New York, where she completed high school, while Cleveland oversaw her welfare from Buffalo. He financed her education, including her enrollment at in Aurora, New York, from 1881 to 1884, where she graduated as part of the school's first graduating class. Cleveland maintained a paternal interest, corresponding with her family and ensuring her needs were met through the estate's resources, which he administered prudently amid his rising political career as Erie County sheriff, mayor of Buffalo, and . This arrangement reflected Cleveland's longstanding friendship with the Folsom family, as he had frequently visited their home and treated young Frances with affection during her childhood. The guardianship concluded without controversy as Frances reached adulthood, transitioning to independent pursuits before her courtship with Cleveland began in earnest around 1884. Cleveland's role earned contemporary praise for its diligence, with no documented disputes over estate management or her upbringing.

Education at Wells College

Frances Folsom enrolled at in Aurora, New York, in February 1882 at the age of seventeen, receiving advanced standing that allowed her to enter as a . The institution, chartered in 1868 as the New York Female Seminary and renamed , represented one of the earliest liberal arts colleges dedicated to women's higher education in the United States, emphasizing a rigorous including sciences, languages, and . During her studies, Folsom demonstrated consistent academic diligence, attending every lesson and approaching recitations with thorough preparation and notable originality. As her following her father's death in 1875, —then serving as —maintained regular correspondence with her, offering guidance on her and personal matters while arranging for fresh flowers to adorn her room. Folsom completed her degree requirements and graduated with a in June 1885, marking the culmination of her formal before her subsequent European tour and marriage.

Courtship and Marriage

Development of Romantic Relationship

, a longtime friend and partner of Oscar Folsom in , became familiar with Frances Folsom shortly after her birth on July 21, 1864, when her father brought her to his office in a baby . Following Oscar Folsom's death in a carriage on July 23, 1875, was named of his estate, valued at approximately $250,000, and assumed responsibility for the welfare of the widowed Emma Folsom and their 11-year-old daughter Frances, though he was not appointed her . In this capacity, oversaw Frances's , first at boarding schools in Buffalo and Medina, New York, and later at Wells College in Aurora, New York, where she enrolled in 1881 and graduated in June 1885; he covered her tuition and expenses from the estate funds. What began as a protective, advisory relationship evolved into a romantic one as reached adulthood. , then in his late forties and , frequently corresponded with and visited during her college years, affectionately calling her "Frank" since childhood—a nickname reflecting his early familiarity rather than any romantic intent at the time. In early 1885, approximately a year before his inauguration as president, sought and received permission from Emma Folsom to pursue correspondence with her daughter on a personal level, marking the shift toward . Their exchanges during this period, preserved in intimate letters, reveal 's growing affection, with him expressing admiration for her maturity and character amid his demanding political life. The romantic commitment solidified shortly after Frances's graduation. In August 1885, while she visited friends in , Cleveland proposed marriage by letter, emphasizing his long-standing regard and desire for her companionship; she accepted with her mother's approval, keeping the private amid his presidential campaign. This discreet development, spanning over a decade from initial oversight to proposal, bridged a 27-year age gap—Cleveland was 48, Frances 21—and proceeded without public knowledge until their wedding announcement, underscoring the personal nature of their bond formed through years of trust and proximity rather than formal social introduction.

White House Wedding and Public Reaction

On June 2, 1886, President Grover Cleveland, aged 49, married 21-year-old Frances Folsom in a private ceremony in the Blue Room of the White House, marking the only such wedding of a sitting U.S. president in the executive mansion. The event featured minimal furnishings, replaced by potted palms, plants, and flowers for decoration, with Frances attired in an ivory satin gown trimmed with orange blossoms and tulle. Approximately 28 guests attended, including family members, cabinet officials, and their wives, underscoring the intimate nature of the proceedings. The union drew from Cleveland's longstanding role as Frances's following her father's death in 1875, a relationship that evolved into romance during her college years. Cleveland had maintained secrecy around the engagement to manage public expectations, but the wedding's occurrence in the amplified national interest. Public reaction was marked by widespread fascination and media coverage, with newspapers depicting the event as a romantic spectacle akin to a fairy tale, despite the 27-year age disparity and Cleveland's prior guardianship. Cleveland himself noted being unprepared for the intense public scrutiny of his bride, reflecting the era's growing press intrusion into presidential personal life. While some commentary highlighted the unconventional aspects—such as the groom's bachelor status at inauguration and the bride's youth—overall sentiment celebrated the match, boosting Cleveland's image as a relatable figure amid his administration's reform efforts. Post-ceremony, the couple honeymooned briefly before Frances assumed her role as the youngest First Lady to that point.

First Term as First Lady (1886–1889)

Transition to White House Duties

Following their wedding on June 2, 1886, in the Blue Room of the —a private ceremony attended by approximately 30 guests—President and Frances Folsom departed for a brief at the Deer Park Hotel in , arriving the subsequent day. The couple's seclusion was short-lived, as reporters trailed them, marking an early instance of intense media scrutiny on the new , who at 21 became the youngest to assume the role. Upon returning to Washington, Frances Cleveland promptly relieved her husband's sister, , of hosting responsibilities, which Rose had managed since the administration's inception in March 1885. Frances instituted regular social protocols, including twice-weekly receptions—one on Saturdays specifically for working women—and noon public presentations where she personally greeted an estimated 10,000 visitors over the term's remainder. To manage the influx of fan correspondence, she employed a social secretary, reflecting the unprecedented public fascination with her youth, beauty, and status as the first to wed while in office. Cleveland's early tenure emphasized gracious yet structured entertaining, blending accessibility with decorum; she balanced official duties by supporting charitable causes, such as the Washington Home for Friendless Colored Girls and the Colored Christmas Club, without altering the era's formal social hierarchy. Her poised adaptation to these demands, amid a household staff of over 30, established her as an effective hostess, though she occasionally sought respite from the constant visibility by retreating to private quarters. This transition solidified the White House's role as a center of refined republican entertaining, drawing on Frances's prior and social poise rather than prior political experience.

Social Hosting and Renovations

Upon assuming the duties of following her marriage to President on June 2, 1886, Frances Cleveland revitalized the White House's social calendar, which had been managed by her sister-in-law during the president's first year in office. She hosted two receptions weekly, innovating with Saturday afternoon events to enable attendance by employed women unavailable on weekdays, a departure from prior traditions that drew thousands and highlighted her consideration for the . These gatherings, combined with state dinners and formal entertainments, showcased her poise and fashion sense, fostering public admiration and positioning her as a symbol of youthful elegance in the . In parallel with her hosting responsibilities, Cleveland contributed to practical improvements in the , which had fallen into disrepair by the mid-1880s. She directed the repainting and redecoration of multiple rooms alongside the hanging of new across the mansion, enhancing its livability and appearance during the 1886–1889 period without major structural overhauls. These updates, funded through congressional appropriations for maintenance, preceded more extensive modernizations like the 1891 installation of electricity under the subsequent Harrison administration, as the Clevelands prioritized aesthetic and functional refinements suited to family life.

Family Beginnings and Motherhood

Following her marriage to President Grover Cleveland on June 2, 1886, in the Blue Room of the , , at age 21 the youngest in U.S. history, began establishing the presidential household as a marital family unit. The couple, previously connected through Cleveland's guardianship of Folsom since her father's death in 1875, transitioned from a private to public life together, with assuming full responsibilities for social functions previously handled by Cleveland's sister Rose. This marked the foundational phase of their family, centered on spousal partnership amid intense scrutiny, as balanced formal duties—such as hosting weekly receptions, including Saturday events for working women—with maintaining personal privacy in the . No children were born to the Clevelands during the first term (1885–1889), reflecting the early stage of their union, which lasted less than three years post-wedding before the administration ended on , 1889. focused on adapting to her role as presidential wife, supporting charitable causes like the Washington Home for Friendless Colored Girls while navigating the era's expectations for a first lady's domestic . Their life remained childless in this period, with the serving primarily as the setting for their emerging partnership rather than parental duties. Motherhood commenced after the Clevelands left office, with the birth of their first child, daughter Ruth, on October 3, 1891, in , where the couple had relocated. This event, occurring during Grover Cleveland's unsuccessful campaign and inter-term years, initiated Frances's parental responsibilities, which would later intersect with her resumed role; Ruth's arrival at a time when Frances was 27 and her husband 54 underscored the delayed but eventual expansion of their household from marital to familial. The Clevelands ultimately had five children, but the seeds of this family dynamic were planted in the during the initial term through their committed union.

Interlude and Second Term (1889–1897)

Private Years Between Administrations

Upon leaving the on March 4, 1889, and Frances Cleveland relocated to , where joined the law firm of Bangs, Ferris & Bangs to resume his legal practice. The couple settled at 816 in , seeking a quieter life away from public scrutiny while focused on his career and Democratic Party activities. Frances adapted to private life by engaging in philanthropic efforts, including support for charitable organizations in the city, though she largely avoided the social spotlight that had defined her White House years. On October 3, 1891, she gave birth to the couple's first child, daughter Ruth, at their residence, an event that drew widespread media interest and marked a personal milestone amid their inter-term seclusion. The family maintained a low profile, with Frances prioritizing motherhood and household management as Grover campaigned for the 1892 election. Their period of relative privacy ended with Grover's victory in November 1892, prompting preparations for a return to the in March 1893.

Resuming First Lady Role

Upon Grover Cleveland's victory in the 1892 presidential election, Frances Cleveland returned to the on March 4, 1893, for his non-consecutive second term. Prior to departing the executive mansion in , she had anticipated this outcome, instructing the staff: "I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, for I want to find everything just as it is now when we come back again four years from today." Her resumption of duties occurred seamlessly, with contemporaries observing that she took up her responsibilities as if absent for merely a day. Cleveland maintained the social protocols established during her first tenure, hosting two weekly receptions—one midweek for general visitors and another on Saturdays specifically for working women. To manage heightened press scrutiny and preserve family privacy amid public fascination, she directed the closure of the grounds to casual visitors and utilized a secondary residence in , for more secluded entertaining. These measures reflected her pragmatic approach to balancing official obligations with personal boundaries, sustaining her reputation for charm and accessibility despite the administration's challenges, including the ongoing . In terms of physical enhancements, Cleveland oversaw interior updates, including repainting and re-papering several rooms and remodeling the Red Room to modernize the residence's aesthetics. She also commissioned landscaping improvements, ordering plants and shrubs that contributed to the enduring grounds design. These initiatives underscored her continued influence on the White House's upkeep and presentation, prioritizing functionality and elegance without extravagance. Throughout the term, her popularity endured independently of her husband's declining political fortunes, positioning her as a stabilizing figure in official Washington society.

Expanded Family and Continued Influence

Upon resuming residence in the White House in March 1893, the Cleveland included their two-year-old daughter Ruth, born October 3, 1891, during the inter-administration period. The expanded further when gave birth to their second child, , on September 9, 1893, marking the only instance of a delivering a child in the executive mansion. This event drew significant public and press attention, underscoring the unique domestic visibility of the , though prioritized by ordering the grounds closed to casual visitors except during official functions. The births continued with daughter Marion on July 7, 1895, in , bringing the household to three young daughters amid Grover Cleveland's ongoing duties. Despite these maternal responsibilities, Frances maintained an active public role, hosting two weekly receptions, one specifically on Saturdays to accommodate working women who could not attend midweek events. These gatherings fostered broader social access to the , reflecting her commitment to inclusivity without overt advocacy for specific causes. To balance family life with official demands, the Clevelands retained a secondary residence in , for greater privacy, while Frances oversaw interior updates, including remodeling the Red Room and refreshing other spaces with new paint and wallpaper. Her approach emphasized measured influence, shielding the growing family from excessive scrutiny while upholding the First Lady's traditional hostess functions, which sustained her popularity amid the era's economic challenges.

Post-White House Life

Immediate Post-Presidency Activities

Upon departing the on March 4, 1897, Frances Cleveland accompanied her husband and their three young daughters to , where the family established their residence at Westland, a Georgian Revival mansion at 15 Hodge Road that had been selected in advance to facilitate a quieter life. In this new setting, Cleveland directed her efforts toward managing the household and nurturing her family, marking a shift from public duties to private domestic responsibilities after more than a decade of intermittent White House prominence. A significant family milestone occurred later that year with the birth of the couple's first son, , on October 24, 1897, at Westland, expanding the household amid Grover Cleveland's emerging roles as a trustee and occasional public commentator. Throughout 1897 and into the early years of the new century, Cleveland maintained a low public profile, prioritizing child-rearing and home life over formal engagements, though she occasionally hosted social gatherings reflective of their continued status in circles. This period of relative seclusion allowed the family to adjust to retirement, with Cleveland supporting her husband's literary pursuits, including his composition of essays later compiled in Presidential Problems (1904).

Widowhood After Grover's Death

Following Grover Cleveland's death on June 24, 1908, at their , residence known as Westland Mansion, Frances Cleveland continued to live there with her four surviving children— (aged 15), Marion (13), (11), and Francis (5)—focusing primarily on their upbringing and education. The family home, a Georgian Revival estate purchased in 1896, provided a stable environment amid her private grieving and maternal duties, with no evidence of major relocations or public engagements during this period. Congress approved a $5,000 annual for as the widow of a former president in March 1910, alongside similar grants for other presidential widows, but she declined it, citing personal principles against accepting government financial support beyond what she deemed essential. Instead, she accepted the franking privilege, allowing free mailing of correspondence, which aided in managing family affairs without additional public expenditure. Grover's estate, while not vast—estimated in contemporary reports as insufficient for lavish living—enabled her to maintain the household through prudent management, underscoring her emphasis on self-reliance over dependency on federal aid. Cleveland's widowhood years were marked by seclusion from national spotlight, with activities centered on domestic stability rather than advocacy or social prominence; she avoided interviews or ceremonial roles, preserving the low-profile existence established post-presidency. This phase ended with her of archaeology professor Thomas J. Preston Jr., culminating in marriage on February 13, 1913, after which she transitioned into a new family dynamic while retaining ties to Princeton.

Remarriage to Thomas J. Preston Jr.

Frances Folsom Cleveland, widowed since former President Grover Cleveland's death on June 24, 1908, remarried on February 10, 1913, at the age of 48, to Thomas Jex Preston Jr., a 50-year-old professor of classical archaeology at Princeton University. The private ceremony occurred in Princeton, New Jersey, attended by a small group of family and friends, reflecting Frances's preference for discretion following her high-profile White House years. This union made her the first widowed former First Lady to remarry. Preston, born October 26, 1862, had established himself as a of ancient artifacts and later served in administrative roles, including as at . The couple had no children together, and the marriage provided Frances companionship in Princeton, where she maintained her residence and social engagements. Preston outlived her, passing away on December 25, 1955.

Later Years and Death

Residence in Princeton

Following the death of Grover Cleveland at their Princeton home on June 24, 1908, Frances Cleveland continued to reside at Westland Mansion, located at 15 Hodge Road in Princeton, New Jersey, where she raised her remaining children. The property, a Colonial Revival-style house spanning 6,345 square feet with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, had been selected by Frances in 1896, with the family relocating there in 1897 after Cleveland's second term as president. After her remarriage to Thomas J. Preston Jr., a professor of classical archaeology at Princeton University, on February 10, 1913, the couple maintained their primary residence in Princeton, retaining ownership of Westland amid her other properties. Preston's academic position at the university facilitated their continued presence in the town, where Frances engaged in local community life while managing family affairs. The home remained a private family residence, reflecting her preference for a settled life in the academic community following her White House years. Frances Cleveland Preston lived at Westland until her later years, though she traveled periodically and maintained additional properties, such as in Tamworth, . She passed away on October 29, 1947, in , , at age 83, and was interred beside in . The Westland Mansion has since remained a private residence, preserving its historical association with the Cleveland family.

Philanthropic Efforts and Personal Interests

In , following her remarriage, Frances Cleveland Preston focused on philanthropic endeavors centered on education, women's advancement, and relief efforts. She advocated for higher education for women, providing financial support to and assisting individual women in obtaining college degrees. Her involvement with the university extended to ceremonial roles, such as participating in foundation-laying events for educational facilities. A primary focus was her leadership in the Needlework Guild of America, where she served as treasurer of the Princeton division from 1921 to 1924 before becoming national president from 1925 to 1940. Under her guidance, the guild organized clothing drives that distributed over two million garments to the needy, particularly during the , leveraging members' skills to produce essential items like undergarments and layettes. During , she supported U.S. military preparedness through collaboration with the National Security League, promoting national defense initiatives alongside activists Solomon Stanwood Menken and Robert McNutt McElroy. Preston's personal interests complemented her philanthropy, including avid knitting, which she applied to guild projects producing wartime necessities. She maintained scholarly pursuits in English literature and the arts, enjoying piano playing, painting, and photography, while her fluency in French facilitated European travels in her later years. These activities reflected a commitment to domestic skills and cultural refinement amid family responsibilities.

Final Illness and Death in 1947

In October 1947, Frances Cleveland Preston, aged 83, traveled from her residence in , to , , to celebrate the 50th birthday of her son on October 24. While staying at his home, she died peacefully in her sleep on October 29. No preceding illness or medical condition was publicly noted in accounts of her passing, which occurred suddenly and without apparent distress. Her body was returned to Princeton for funeral services, reflecting her long-standing ties to the community where she had resided since 1913. She was interred in alongside her first husband, former President , in a private ceremony consistent with her preference for understated personal affairs. At the time of her death, she was survived by four of her five children with Cleveland—Esther, Marion, , and Francis—as well as her second husband, , and descendants including grandchildren.

Legacy

Public Image and Fashion Influence

Frances Cleveland, at age 21 the youngest in U.S. upon her marriage to on June 2, 1886, quickly became a national celebrity whose youth and beauty captivated the public. Her wedding, the only such event in presidential , drew widespread media attention, transforming her into an icon of elegance and romance that softened her husband's stern public persona. Newspapers chronicled her every appearance, fostering an image of vivacity and approachability that contrasted with the era's more reserved expectations for women in high society. Cleveland's fashion choices amplified her influence, as she favored décolleté gowns exposing the neck, shoulders, and arms—styles considered daring for the and emulated by many American women. These low-neckline dresses, often in or lace, set trends that positioned her as a style arbiter, with her wardrobe pieces like an iridescent green gown preserved as exemplars of opulence. Despite criticism from the , which decried the attire as immodest and harmful to youthful morals, Cleveland persisted in wearing such garments, prioritizing personal taste over prevailing propriety norms. Her sartorial decisions not only inspired copycats across but also elevated the first lady's role as a cultural tastemaker, predating modern precedents like Jacqueline Kennedy. By blending European influences—such as Parisian designs in her —with American accessibility, Cleveland democratized high , encouraging broader adoption of refined yet revealing silhouettes among middle-class women. This influence endured, as evidenced by the archival significance of her dresses in institutions like the Smithsonian, underscoring her lasting impact on perceptions of feminine public presentation.

Traditional Role and Family Emphasis

Frances Cleveland exemplified traditional gender roles through her focus on domesticity, motherhood, and hosting, eschewing broader political activism during her tenure as from 1886 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897. She aligned with prevailing views of the era by prioritizing her responsibilities as wife and mother, viewing the home as the primary sphere for women's influence as the "moral compass" of the family. Cleveland opposed , arguing it would disrupt family structures and women's natural domestic duties, a stance shared with her husband , who similarly critiqued the movement for potentially undermining marital and parental roles. Although she cast a single vote after the 19th Amendment's ratification in 1920, her lifelong emphasis remained on reinforcing rather than expanding women's public authority. Her commitment to family was evident in her parenting of five children—Ruth (born October 3, 1891), (born September 9, 1893, the only child born in the ), Marion (born July 7, 1895), Richard (born August 28, 1897), and Francis (born August 18, 1903)—whom she shielded from media intrusion by restricting grounds access and limiting press photographs during her second term. This protective approach reduced her social engagements compared to her first term, allowing greater attention to child-rearing amid public life. In legacy, Cleveland's model of family-centered life influenced perceptions of the First Lady as a symbol of domestic stability; she advocated women's , including support for kindergartens on October 1, 1897, but framed it as enhancing maternal skills rather than enabling political participation. Post-White House, her relocation to , in 1896 further underscored this priority, as she supervised her children's schooling while engaging in child welfare philanthropy without pursuing independent career ambitions.

Political Views and Support for Conservatism

Frances Cleveland adhered to traditional Victorian ideals regarding women's roles, viewing the primary duty of a wife and mother as serving as the moral compass within the home rather than engaging in the "dirty world" of . She followed her husband's admonition that women should avoid preoccupying themselves with or public issues, limiting her public activities to social hosting and nonpartisan causes like kindergarten advocacy. In her later years, Cleveland expressed more explicit political opinions, prominently opposing as a threat to established gender norms and family stability. In a 1915 statement, she argued that women were insufficiently versed in political conditions to cast informed votes and that male governance already safeguarded female interests effectively. She held the vice presidency of the Association Opposed to Woman's Suffrage, resigning only upon the 19th Amendment's ratification on August 26, 1920. This position aligned with conservative principles emphasizing the preservation of for men and women, prioritizing domestic influence over electoral participation—a stance shared with her husband, who similarly critiqued as disruptive to social order. Though she voted after suffrage's enactment, Cleveland's lifelong emphasis on traditional family structures and reluctance to endorse progressive reforms underscored a broader affinity for conservative values, including fiscal restraint and intervention, as embodied in Grover Cleveland's administrations. Her views contrasted with emerging feminist movements, reflecting a commitment to causal stability in societal roles over egalitarian expansions of political .

Assessments of Achievements and Criticisms

Frances Cleveland's tenure as first lady is historically assessed as a model of graceful public engagement and social enhancement at the , where she hosted weekly receptions, including dedicated events for working women on Saturdays, and greeted over 10,000 visitors during official presentations, thereby revitalizing the executive mansion's social calendar after a period of austerity under her sister-in-law . Her popularity, fueled by her youth and poise, provided a buffer against political attacks on her husband's administration, with contemporaries noting that critics hesitated to assail amid widespread public affection for his wife. Philanthropically, she championed causes like the Colored Christmas Club, which distributed food, gifts, and entertainment to impoverished children in , and supported the Washington Home for Friendless Colored Girls, encouraging white women's participation in aid for African American youth, reflecting a pragmatic commitment to charitable welfare without overt political advocacy. Post-presidency, Cleveland's achievements extended to educational advocacy, serving as a trustee for her alma mater and contributing to initiatives for women's higher education and professional opportunities, alongside ongoing work for the poor that historians credit as enduring legacies in early 20th-century . She emphasized family and traditional roles, giving birth to two daughters in the —Esther in 1893, the only child of a president born there, and Marion in —while managing renovations like the Red Room to modernize the residence. These efforts, combined with her denial of unsubstantiated 1888 campaign rumors alleging spousal abuse, underscored her loyalty and stabilizing influence amid personal and political scrutiny. Criticisms of Cleveland centered primarily on her fashion choices, particularly her preference for sleeveless décolleté gowns exposing shoulders and arms, which conservative groups like the Women's Christian Temperance Union decried as immodest and a detrimental example for young women, prompting petitions urging more covered attire in line with Victorian daytime propriety. Despite such contemporary backlash, she persisted, prioritizing personal style over conformity, a stance that amplified media scrutiny during her second term and led to temporary restrictions on grounds access to shield her family. Broader evaluations note limited direct policy impact, with her focus on social graces and charity rather than activism like , aligning with her conservative inclinations but drawing occasional reproach for commercial exploitation of her image in endorsements, which she opposed through failed legislative efforts. Overall, historical assessments privilege her substantive charitable outcomes and public poise over transient fashion debates, viewing her as an effective, non-partisan enhancer of the first ladyship's traditional scope.

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