This week, Donald Trump accomplished a rare feat achieved by only one other American, reclaiming the presidency after previously losing it. However, while his comeback resembles that of Grover Cleveland, experts note that the parallels between the two men end there.
Grover Cleveland first assumed office in 1885 but lost his bid for reelection four years later, only to return and win the presidency once more, making him both the 22nd and 24th president. Historians are now reexamining Cleveland’s legacy, as his unique achievement went unmatched for over 125 years.
Anton Schulzki, interim executive director of the National Council for Social Studies, suggests Cleveland may see renewed attention. “Grover isn’t often highlighted in school curriculums, but that could change,” he stated.
Grover Cleveland, the first Democratic president post-Civil War, and Donald Trump, whose political styles contrast sharply, both made historic comebacks
While both Cleveland and Trump share the historic distinction of nonconsecutive terms, they differ in their political and personal styles. David Greenberg, a Rutgers University history professor, observes, “There’s little to compare between Cleveland and Trump as individuals.
Their values, personalities, and policies were vastly different. Any similarities lie in the political climates of their times, as both eras were marked by fierce partisanship.”
Cleveland, the first Democratic president after the Civil War, secured the popular vote in all three elections he contested but lost the Electoral College in 1888. Trump, conversely, lost the popular vote in 2016, was defeated in both the popular and electoral votes in 2020, and achieved victory in both in his recent comeback.
Greenberg notes that the two eras shared a highly polarized electorate, with intense loyalty to both parties. “Back then, as now, the electorate was closely split, leading to highly competitive elections where outcomes were often narrow,” Greenberg explained. “Passion and intense rhetoric dominated both political landscapes.”
Cleveland, a New Jersey native, devoted his life to public service. Before his presidency, he served as sheriff, mayor of Buffalo, and governor of New York.
Known for his focus on reducing government spending and protective tariffs, his stance on tariffs partly contributed to his defeat in the 1888 election, as some voters feared that lower tariffs could harm American jobs.
His second term, however, was marred by an economic crisis and a major labor dispute, the Pullman railroad strike, which he addressed by deploying federal troops. Both presidents have faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cleveland was accused in 1874 of assault and impregnating Maria Halpin, arranging for her institutionalization to gain custody of their child, Oscar Folsom Cleveland.
Meanwhile, Trump was found liable for sexual battery last year and has faced multiple accusations of misconduct, alongside a conviction related to falsified records for hush-money payments.
Historian Michael Kazin from Georgetown University notes that Cleveland acknowledged the situation with Halpin, although it remains unclear if he was the child’s father. “Cleveland took responsibility for supporting the child,” Kazin added.
The single-term presidencies that disrupted Cleveland and Trump’s terms—those of Benjamin Harrison and Joe Biden—also reveal some similarities. Jordan Cash, a Michigan State University professor, points out that Harrison, during his single term, enacted legislation that expanded government spending and influenced the economy negatively.
Cash suggests this may parallel Biden’s impact, noting, “While the policies differ, both leaders’ economic approaches led to dissatisfaction, prompting voters to turn back to a prior president.”
At nearly 82, Biden is unlikely to attempt another run after stepping aside this year, but Cleveland and now Trump’s comebacks may offer encouragement to future candidates who lose their seats at the White House. Cash concludes, “In the future, we may see more presidents who, after a defeat, attempt a return to office.”
