Frank

Annette B. Dunlap

Description

When she married forty-nine-year-old President Grover Cleveland in a White House ceremony on June 2, 1886, Frances Folsom Cleveland was only twenty-one years old, making her the nation's youngest First Lady. Despite her age, however, Washington society marveled at how quickly the inexperienced Mrs. Cleveland (known as "Frank" to her family and friends) established herself as a social leader and capable spouse. Her popular Saturday receptions and glittering formal social events, combined with the warm and winning personality she displayed during her first two years in the White House, made her one of America's most popular First Ladies.

Yet, as Annette Dunlap demonstrates in Frank, there was more to this charming and resolute woman than her social and entertaining skills. Active in New York society during the four years between the two Cleveland administrations, Frances built relationships with many of the nation's elite that helped return her husband to the White House for a second term. She played a pivotal role in keeping Cleveland's operation for cancer a secret, and as the country's economic picture and Cleveland's political popularity deteriorated, she coped admirably with criticism of herself and her husband, as well as lies about her children's health.

Even though she shared her husband's opposition to women's suffrage, favoring instead an exalted role for women in the home, she struggled with Cleveland's possessiveness. A strong and opinionated woman in her own right, she developed her own network of associations that promoted kindergartens, mission work, and charitable activities that alleviated conditions for the poor.

The first widowed former First Lady to remarry, Frances found new life as a political activist, taking a strong stand for military preparedness and promoting the need for a just and lasting peace at the end of World War I. She maintained leadership roles in several organizations well into her seventies, including the board of trustees of her alma mater, Wells College. Her lasting contributions to both early and higher education, as well as her work on behalf of the poor, may well make Frances Folsom Cleveland one of America's most underrated First Ladies.
List of Illustrations
Note on Spelling
Acknowledgments

1. "A little schoolgirl"

2. "A peculiarly happy disposition"

3. "Her manner is charming"

4. "She'll do!"

5. "The place is full of rumours about Mrs. Cleveland"

6. "Life is very smooth and even and beautiful"

7. "Mrs. Cleveland knew what she wanted"

8. "The best part is . . . the drive with G.C."

9. "Mr. Cleveland died at nine this morning"

10. "I am marrying Mrs. Grover Cleveland"

11. "America is simply not used to being serious about anything"

12. "I wish only a true picture of his life"

Epilogue
Afterword
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• English articles
• Region
• Regional
• The

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 30 mars 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781438428161
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Fr  ank The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America’s Youngest First Lady

AN NETTE DUNLAP

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Frank

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Frank The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America’s Youngest First Lady



ANNETTE DUNLAP

e e excelsior editions State University of New York Press Albany, New York

Cover photo of Frances Folsom Cleveland in black evening gown, catalog #FFC93.34.a (Large), owned by NJ Division of Parks and Forestry, Grover Cleveland Birthplace

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2009 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, contact State University of New York Press, Albany, NY www.sunypress.edu

Excelsior Editions is an imprint of State University of New York Press

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Fran Keneston

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Dunlap, Annette, 1955–  Frank : the story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America’s youngest first lady / Annette Dunlap.  p. cm.  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 978-1-4384-2817-8 (hardcover : alk. paper)  1. Cleveland, Frances Folsom, 1864–1947. 2. Presidents’ spouses—United States—Biography. 3. Cleveland, Grover, 1837–1908—Marriage. I. Title.  E697.5.C55D86 2009  973.8'5092—dc22 2008054151

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

List of Illustrations Note on Spelling Acknowledgments

Chapter One:

Chapter Two:

Contents

“A little schoolgirl”

“A peculiarly happy disposition”

Chapter Three: “Her manner is charming”

Chapter Four:

Chapter Five:

Chapter Six:

“She’ll do!”

“The place is full of rumours about Mrs. Cleveland”

“Life is very smooth and even and beautiful”

Chapter Seven: “Mrs. Cleveland knew what she wanted”

Chapter Eight: “The best part is . . . the drive with G.C.”

Chapter Nine:

Chapter Ten:

“Mr. Cleveland died at nine this morning”

“I am marrying Mrs. Grover Cleveland”

Chapter Eleven: “America is simply not used to being  serious about anything”

Chapter Twelve: “I wish only a true picture of his life”

Epilogue Afterword Notes Bibliography Index

vii ix xi

1

13

25

37

49

61

77

99

109

125

137

151

165 167 169 187 191

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Illustrations

 1. Frances Folsom Cleveland, by C. M. Bell  2. Helena deKay Gilder  3. Frances Cleveland’s dog, Kay  4. Emma Folsom Perrine with Ruth and Esther Cleveland  5. Frances Cleveland with Ruth  6. Henry Perrine  7. Marion Cleveland  8. Esther Cleveland  9. Richard Cleveland 10. Francis Grover Cleveland 11. Gray Gables 12. Intermont 13. Frances at Gray Gables with Ruth and Esther 14. Grover Cleveland and Richard Watson Gilder

Photo credits: Grover Cleveland Birthplace Museum

vii

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