PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/10/1882 - HFSID 252461

GROVER CLEVELAND
Personal letter of introduction written as Mayor.
ALS: "Grover Cleveland" as Mayor of Buffalo, 1p, 7¾x10½. Buffalo, N.Y., 1882 July 10. Penned in an unknown hand at upper right "Grover Cleveland/Jany '82". To James F. Crocker, Esq. On stationery of "Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard/Counselors at Law". In full: "The bearer of this is Mr Kip, a member of the bar of the City and a young gentleman whom I take great pleasure in recommending to your favorable consideration. He wants to talk with you in regard to another connected with your Department." Lawyer Grover Cleveland was elected Mayor of Buffalo in 1881. Taking office on January 1, 1882, Cleveland warned city employees that they had to give a full day's work or they ran the risk of being fired. Corrupt city councilmen tried to pass laws that wasted money, but Cleveland quickly turned them down with his veto power. He also vetoed bills for unnecessary sidewalks and needless printing costs. He refused to allow government workers to charge the city for personal expenses and for the city to pay for gifts to politicians. As is evident by this letter, he even used his own law firm's stationery for personal letters. This strong desire to correct the government earned him the nickname the "Veto Mayor". In September, two months after writing this letter, Cleveland was nominated for Governor of New York. Running on his reputation for being an honest politician, Cleveland won the 1882 election without making a single campaign speech. Folds, horizontal fold touches the "G" and top of "C", vertical touches the first "e" in Cleveland. Stained and soiled touching some words of text but not signature. Nicked and creased at top edge. Slight separation at upper vertical folds in blank margin.