PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/11/1898 - HFSID 31320

GROVER CLEVELAND
Grover Cleveland wrote this letter to a New York City resident in 1898 to schedule an afternoon to meet the recipient.
Autograph letter signed: "Grover Cleveland". 1 page, 5¼x6½, 1 sheet folded. April 11,1898. Addressed To Melville E. [illegible], Esq., New York City. In full: "My dear Sir I would be glad to see you Wednesday afternoon. I can talk with a little more cer=tainty then than earlier. Yours truly". Cleveland (1837-1908, born in Caldwell, New Jersey), served as the 22nd U.S. President from 1885-1889. He was the first Democratic President elected after the Civil War and became a Democratic candidate again in 1892 as a fighter of protective tariffs. He ran for re-election on Nov. 6, 1888, receiving more popular votes than Benjamin Harrison (5,537,857 to 5,447,129), but lost in the Electoral College, 233 to 168 electoral votes, 20 to 18 states. After his first Presidential term he retired to New York to resume his law practice as he had no private fortune. In 1892, Cleveland was the first ballot nominee at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He defeated President Harrison in popular votes (5,556,918 to 5,176,108), electoral votes (277-145), and states (23-16). Grover and Frances Cleveland, married in the White House in 1886, had their first child, Ruth, in 1891, Esther, the only presidential child born in the White House, in 1893, a third daughter Marion in 1895, son Richard in 1897, and son Francis in 1903. Cleveland is the only former U.S. President to be elected President. Lightly toned and creased. Handwriting, but not signature, is lightly smeared in places but legible. Random ink stains. Tape residue on back of letter (no show-through). Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.