In 1892, Grover Cleveland became the first and only U.S. president who was elected to two, non consecutive terms. Cleveland lost the 1888 election mainly because he could not make a deal with the Democratic politicians from his home state, New York. They disliked him because he had been a corruption fighter while he was governor. In 1892 he made peace with them. That combined with the inflation caused by the unwise protective tariff policies of his opponent, Benjamin Harrison, helped him win back the White House. Here is a medalet that may have been issued after the 1892 election. The reverse is especially interesting. Most people associate the donkey with the Democratic Party. During the 19th century and for the first 20 years of the 20th century, the party symbol was the Rooster, which appears in the center of this piece. The bird is surrounded by slogans and past Democratic presidents and one near president. The slogan "A public office is a public trust" was Grover Cleveland's prime campaign slogan along with "He is an honest man." People may have disagreed with his policies, which included the gold standard, but no one could say that he was dishonest. When the story surfaced in 1884 that Cleveland had fathered a child out of wedlock, he told his aids to say, "Tell them it's true." He didn't try to dance around the issue. "Washington" and "Mar. 4, 1893" were the place and time that his inauguration would be held. A portrait of Grover Cleveland is at the top with his beginning and "new beginning" years in office, "1885, 1893." Next is Andrew Jackson, who in some ways founded the Democratic Party. He served as president from 1829 to 1837. Next is Samuel J. Tilden. Many people thought that he was cheated out of the 1876 presidential election. The slogan "Elected & Counted Out" reflect that opinion. Thomas Jefferson, whom many historians credit as the "Founder of Democratic (Party) and his dates, "1801-9," round out the design. This is piece is not a great rarity, but it's also not easy to find.
Very interesting read. Thanks for posting. The association between public office and public trust seems to renewed.
