When bachelor president Grover Cleveland (1837-1908; see entry in volume 3) entertained widow Emma Folsom and her daughter, Frances, in the White House shortly after he became president, gossip swirled about a possible romance. Rumors continued even as the Folsoms left for a European vacation during that summer of 1885. Cleveland, meanwhile, grew impatient with the gossip: "I don't see why the papers keep marrying me to old ladies," the confirmed bachelor reportedly said to an aide.

When the Folsoms returned to the United States in May 1886, reporters were waiting for their ship, which was due to arrive in New York. The reporters wanted to pursue the romance angle. Cleveland's White House secretary, meanwhile, chartered a boat and met the ship out in the harbor. The Folsoms were helped on to the boat, which then sped away to a harbor safe from nosy reporters.

Meanwhile, Cleveland arrived in...