"WE CAN'T GET WITHIN SOUND OF PRESIDENT'S VOICE"

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND PLAYS TO A CROWDED HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 28, 1893, the Washington Times reports President Grover Cleveland* "played to a crowded house today."  At least from 10 to 11 o'clock this morning.  It was "Cabinet Day" at the White House.  

One congressman complained "we can't see the President at all on Monday," and are "limited to one hour on Tuesday and Friday."  He said...

"We can't get within sound of (the President's) voice."  

Notable visitors at the Executive Mansion included John Scott Harrison, Jr.** of Kansas City, brother of former President Benjamin Harrison but none-the-less a "staunch democrat."

*Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) served as the 22nd POTUS, 1885-1889 & 24th POTUS, 1893-1897.   SGC is the only president to serve non-consecutive terms of office & only one of two Democrats to occupy the office 1861-1933.

**John Scott Harrison, Jr. (1844-1926) was the brother of President Benjamin Harrison, the grandson of President William Henry Harrison & the great grandson of Benjamin Harrison, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

SOURCES

"At The White House, Those Who Saw President Cleveland About Office," The Washington Times, March 28, 1893, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"John Scott Harrison, Jr.," Find-A-Grave, www.findagrave.com/

Grover Cleveland

Official Portrait

by Eastman Johnson (1891)

White House Collection

"FIRST POTUS TO MARRY IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION"

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND WEDS FRANCES FOLSOM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 2, 1886, President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom* in the Blue Room at the White House here in the Nation's Capital.

The President was 49 years old while his bride was 21.  Mrs. Cleveland became the youngest First Lady in history.

The event also marked the first time a sitting POTUS married in the Executive Mansion.  John Tyler was the first president to marry while serving in office but the ceremony was not conducted at the White House.

According to presidential historian Feather Schwartz Foster, "the 'engagement' had been a total surprise to Washington society."  The wedding date was not announced until the week before and less than fifty invitations were sent out.

*Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) was born in Buffalo, New York & graduated from Wells College. 

SOURCE

"Frances Cleveland: The Wedding Gown," by Feather Schwartz Foster, Presidential historian, www.featherfoster.wordpress.com/ 

 

 

Presidential Wedding

in the Blue Room

June 2, 1886

 

 

BABY GIRL BORN AT THE WHITE HOUSE

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1708

FIRST PRESIDENTIAL BABY BORN AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) A century and twenty-two years ago today, September 9, 1893, President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland announced that their second child, Esther*, had been born at the White House.

Esther Cleveland was the first child of a President of the United States to be born in the executive mansion.  The first child to be born in the White House was James Madison Randolph**, the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. He was born in 1806.

Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleveland, at age 21, remains the youngest First Lady in American history.

*Esther Cleveland Bosanquet (1893-1980) was born in Washington, D.C.  She made her social debut in 1912 and married Captain William Sidney Bence Bosanquet of the British Coldstream Guards.  ECB died in New Hampshire at the age of 86.

**James Madison Randolph** was the 8th child & 2nd son of Thomas Mann Randolph and Martha Jefferson Randolph.  His grandfather was President Thomas Jefferson.  He graduated from the University of Virginia and ran one of the small family farms.  JMR died at age 28

Esther Cleveland

COURTNEY KENNEDY BORN IN BOSTON

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) FIfty-nine years ago today, September 9, 1956, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy announced the birth of their fifth child and second daughter, Mary Courtney Kennedy.*

Courtney was married to Jeffrey Ruhe (1980-1990) and Paul Michael Hill (1993-2006).  She worked in pediatric AIDS with the United Nations, and is now a human rights activist.   MCK has one child named Saorise Roisin which in Gaelic means "Freedom Rose."

SOURCE

"Bobby and Ehtel's Brood:  The Weight of Legacy," by Adam Cohen, www.cnn.com/ 

WEDDING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND MARRIES FRANCES FOLSOM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred twenty-nine years ago today, June 2, 1886, President Grover Cleveland* and Frances Folsom** were married in the Blue Room at the White House.  Invited guests included relatives and close friends as well as the President's cabinet and their wives.

Grover Cleveland was 49 years old while the bride, the daughter of his late law partner, was 21.  Mrs. Cleveland became the youngest FIRST LADY.

The event also marked the first time a sitting President was married in the Executive Mansion.  John Tyler was the first President to marry while in office but the ceremony was not conducted at the White House.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Byron Sutherland with the assistance of the groom's brother, Rev. William Cleveland.  For the ceremony, the traditional words 'honor, love and obey' were substituted by 'love, honor and keep.'

Music was provided by John Philip Sousa and the United States Marine Band.

Although the day was a regular working day for the President, he and the First Lady departed for a five day honeymoon at Deer Park in the Cumberland 
Mountains of western Maryland.

*Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) the only President to serve non consecutive terms is both the 22nd (1885-1889) and 24th (1893-1897) Presidents.  He was born in Caldwell, NJ and admitted to the bar in 1859.  He later became Mayor of Buffalo, NY and Governor of NY.

**Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) was born in Buffalo, NY.  Her father, Oscar Folsom, died in 1875 and Grover Cleveland became administrator of his estate.

Frances graduated from Wells College in Aurora, NY.  After Cleveland's death, she married Thomas J. Preston Jr.  She died in Baltimore and is buried in Princeton, N.J. beside her 1st husband.

 Wedding Ceremony in the Blue Room

June 2, 1886

The White House

Frances Folsom Cleveland

Library of Congress Photo