Grover Cleveland is the only president to have served nonconsecutive (unconnected) terms. He was elected president in 1884, lost his bid for reelection in 1888, and won again in 1892. His shifting political fortunes reflected the state of the nation. Americans faced an unstable economy despite the continued growth of industry and railroads. Many businessmen were growing extremely wealthy, while farmers and laborers struggled against steadily increasing prices for such basic necessities as food and clothing. National politics had been dominated for years by patronage (selecting people for government jobs based on their support for an elected official rather than on their qualifications), partisanship (putting the concerns of a political group or party above all other concerns), and scandals. The United States was growing increasingly involved in international affairs and schemes.

Cleveland is admired not so much for what he did about such problems as for what he did...