AJR79

A Joint Resolution designating the week of March 18 of each year as “President Grover Cleveland Week” in New Jersey.

Whereas, Stephen Grover Cleveland was born at home on March 18, 1837, in the borough of Caldwell, New Jersey, the site of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

Whereas, Despite a tumultuous upbringing in western New York, which caused Cleveland to leave school multiple times, he managed to study law and was admitted to the New York bar in 1859; and

Whereas, In 1881, after relocating to the city of Buffalo, Cleveland was recruited by the Democratic Party to oppose the corruption that plagued the city, winning a decisive victory in the mayoral election over the Republican challenger; and

Whereas, Cleveland’s anti-corruption stance drew major attention across the state and, in 1882, Cleveland entered and won the governor’s race for New York; and

Whereas, Continuing his tradition of anti-corruption, Cleveland entered the 1884 presidential election and defeated Republican challenger and former Secretary of State James G. Blaine; and

Whereas, During his first term in office, President Cleveland abandoned the traditional “spoils system,” which awarded jobs to supporters of the president rather than those most qualified; and

Whereas, President Cleveland lost the highly disputed presidential election of 1888 to challenger Benjamin Harrison due, in part, to the election fraud in Indiana, a crucial swing state; and

Whereas, President Cleveland remained dedicated to national issues and, in 1891, drafted a letter concerning silver which thrust him back into the national spotlight; and

Whereas, Building off the momentum from the letter, President Cleveland launched a successful challenge against President Harrison in 1892 and became the first, and only, president to serve two, non-consecutive terms; and

Whereas, After completing his second term in office, President Cleveland retired to his home, Westland Mansion, in Princeton, New Jersey, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

Whereas, President Cleveland remained committed to service in retirement as both a trustee for Princeton University and occasional consultant to President Theodore Roosevelt; and

Whereas, President Cleveland died on June 24, 1908, and is interred at the Princeton Cemetery of the Nassau Presbyterian Church; and

Whereas, His legacy as the only president to be born in New Jersey persists, with the Grover Cleveland Middle School in his birthplace of Caldwell, New Jersey and his induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2013; and

Whereas, Residents of the State of New Jersey would benefit from increased awareness of its presidential heritage in the life of President Grover Cleveland; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that the State of New Jersey honor the legacy of President Grover Cleveland by designating the week of March 18 of each year as “President Grover Cleveland Week;” now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The week of March 18 of each year is designated as “President Grover Cleveland Week” to celebrate the distinguished life and public service of the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, Grover Cleveland.

2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of the State to observe “President Grover Cleveland Week” with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This resolution designates the week of March 18 of each year as “President Grover Cleveland Week” in New Jersey to celebrate the life and service of President Grover Cleveland.

President Cleveland was born in the borough of Caldwell, New Jersey on March 18, 1837. After a successful career as a lawyer in upstate New York, President Cleveland embarked on a distinguished career in public service. In 1881, President Cleveland was elected Mayor of Buffalo, New York, serving for one year before being approached by the Democratic Party to run for governor. In 1882, President Cleveland won, what was at the time, the largest margin of victory ever for a New York election. President Cleveland would serve for two years before the presidential election of 1884.

In 1884, President Cleveland won the presidential election and became the first, and only, person born in New Jersey to win the presidency. President Cleveland began his term by not implementing the common “spoils system,” which awarded government jobs to supporters rather than those fit to fill the positions. The departure from the “spoils system” was a major reform in Washington, D.C. at the time. In 1886, President Cleveland became the first, and only, president to be wed in the White House.

Although President Cleveland was defeated in the presidential election of 1888, he remained dedicated to the issues of the nation. His popularity among the American people remained as well, and in 1892, President Cleveland was once again elected president, defeating incumbent, President Benjamin Harris. President Cleveland remains the only president to serve two, non-consecutive terms, a testament to his determination even in the face of defeat.

After his second term ended in 1897, President Cleveland retired to his home, Westland Mansion, in Princeton, New Jersey. Prior to his death, he continued his service as a trustee for Princeton University and occasional consultant for President Theodore Roosevelt.