Francis Cleveland

 

Francis Cleveland

Francis was 21 years of age while Grover Cleveland was 49 when they married in a private ceremony in the White House on June 2, 1886. After returning from their honeymoon, Francis took charge of the social events of the White House. Having maintained an overt openness with the public, something that was not shared with her husband nor with Rose Cleveland, her popularity served her husband’s administration very well. She was a supporter of women and hosted social events on Saturdays to make sure that all working women in the district could attend. As a result of her support for working-class women, she became very close with the White House Staff and hired Minnie Alexander as her private secretary since she received countless letters from the American People asking for favors.

In 1887, the Cleveland’s traveled across the United States, facing challenges such as insect bites and overwhelming crowds. Frances Cleveland's public appearances were limited after a chaotic event in Chicago where she had to be escorted away for safety. Rumors circulated about her marriage and fidelity, but she publicly defended her husband and denounced the accusations. Frances remained a prominent figure during Grover Cleveland's reelection campaign in 1888, making history as the first first lady recognized at a Democratic National Convention.

After leaving the White House, Cleveland's transition to private life was not easy. She had never managed a private household before and struggled with the change. Feeling overwhelmed, she experienced a period of depression and sought solace at the Gilders' cottage in Marion, Massachusetts. Eventually, the Clevelands found a rental cottage in the area before purchasing their own summer home, Gray Gables, in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Here, they enjoyed a more private and peaceful life, hosting close friends like the Gilders and actor Joseph Jefferson. Cleveland found comfort in this new home, where she and her husband could live a relatively normal life away from the public eye.

After leaving the White House, Frances Cleveland remained active in charity work and New York social life. She promoted kindergartens and served as vice president of Gilder's New York Kindergarten Association. Frances also focused on motherhood, particularly caring for her daughter Ruth. During Grover Cleveland's 1892 presidential campaign, Frances' social connections and charity work in New York helped secure his victory in the state. Despite her involvement, Grover disapproved of Frances' political role. The Cleveland’s moved to Lakewood, New Jersey, before Grover's second inauguration.

Frances Cleveland returned to the White House on March 4, 1893, becoming the only first lady to serve non-consecutively. She resumed her duties, including evening drives with the president and Saturday receptions. Despite her initial apprehension, she continued her work in establishing kindergartens and supporting the Home for Friendless Colored Girls. As President Cleveland's health declined during his second term, Frances took on a more protective role, keeping his cancer diagnosis a secret and managing his well-being while also pregnant with their second child.

As first lady, Cleveland had two more daughters: Esther in 1893 and Marion in 1895, making her the only first lady to give birth in the White House. She focused on raising her children and took an interest in German culture during her husband's second term. The Clevelands faced public scrutiny over their children and had the White House closed to the public while they were present. They purchased a private residence, Woodley, to escape public attention. Cleveland tearfully said goodbye to the staff at her final reception and later expressed relief at no longer being the first lady.

After leaving the White House for the second time, the Clevelands bought a house in Princeton, New Jersey called Westland. They had two more children, Richard F. Cleveland and Francis Cleveland. Their daughter Ruth died in 1904, prompting them to sell their Gray Gables vacation home and buy a summer home in Tamworth, New Hampshire called Intermont. Grover Cleveland passed away in 1908, leaving Frances to raise their four children alone. She refused a widow's pension but accepted the franking privilege for presidential widows. Frances held a memorial service for Grover at Carnegie Hall in 1909 and later became involved in a legal battle against Broughton Brandenburg, who had forged a document supposedly written by Grover. She testified against Brandenburg in court, where he was found guilty of grand larceny. Frances remarried Thomas J. Preston Jr., a professor at Wells College, in 1913, becoming the first presidential widow to remarry. They honeymooned in Florida and continued to be active in campus social life at Princeton University.

The Prestons moved to London in April 1914 and returned to the US in October 1914 after World War I began. Frances Cleveland-Preston worked with activists to promote military preparedness during the war. She resigned from the National Security League in 1919 due to controversy over her views on patriotic education. Cleveland-Preston opposed women's suffrage and endorsed Al Smith for president in 1928. She supported Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 but did not vote for him in 1940. She eventually supported Harry S. Truman and met General Dwight D. Eisenhower during his presidency.

Cleveland-Preston, afflicted by cataracts, learned Braille to use a Braille typewriter. She continued translating books into braille for blind children even after her cataracts were removed. In her old age, she was involved in the theater community, sometimes traveling with her son's theater troupe. Her final public appearance was at the Princeton University bicentennial celebration in June 1946. She passed away in her sleep at her son's home in Baltimore on October 29, 1947, at the age of 83. Frances Cleveland, as first lady, received unprecedented media and public attention, which sometimes became dangerous due to large crowds. Her presence in the White House softened her husband's reputation and portrayed him as a loving husband and father. Her influence on the role of First Lady extended for generations, with her form letters being used by Eleanor Roosevelt. Cleveland Hall at Wells College was constructed in her honor in 1911. She is ranked among the greatest first ladies by contemporaries and historians.

Francis Cleveland-Preston is buried next to Grover Cleveland in the Princeton Cemetery in Princeton, NJ. 

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Graduating with an Associate of Arts from Pheonix University in Business Management, then a degree in Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology, her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. In her spare time, Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, Gouache, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 6 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, and opinion or history pieces each week.