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  29th Presidential Inauguration (Cleveland)
EVENT DETAILS
ParentParent
TypeInauguration
Title29th Presidential Inauguration (Cleveland)
Start Date/TimeMarch 04, 1885 07:00pm
End Date/TimeMarch 04, 1885 07:00pm
ContributorChronicler
Last ModifiedChronicler - April 19, 2020 06:43pm
Description Grover Cleveland's inauguration in 1885 was the first time in 28 years that a Democrat was inaugurated as US President.

Organizing the Inaugural Committee
Soon after the Presidential Electors met in their respective states to cast the electoral vote, the Inaugural Committee began its work. This committee of businessmen in Washington DC had planned presidential inaugurations beginning with 1873 as a means of enhancing the congressional committees. Earlier Republicans had allowed this committee to make plans, but in 1884 local Democrats considered dispensing with the committee. A group of Democratic Party officials spent a week planning the inauguration in early 12/1884 (Washington Evening Star, 12/10/1884), and when they brought their conclusions to the inaugural committee, the chairman of the committee was offended that the nonpartisan committee's work making local arrangements was being ignored (Philadelphia Times, 12/16/1884). A standing subcommittee of the inaugural committee proposed a committee structure to be discussed when the committee held its organizational meeting on 12/19/1884. At that meeting, vacancies in the 50-member committee were filled, followed by the naming of 11 sub-committees with 700 members appointed (Washington Evening Star, 12/19/1884; Washington Critic, 12/20/1884). The local inaugural committee thus absorbed the Democratic Party members who wanted to help plan the inauguration.

Activities of Cleveland and Hendricks
Grover Cleveland did not venture out much after the election due to safety concerns. A deranged man named Samuel T. Boon tried to attack Cleveland on 10/20, and other suspicious men appeared around Cleveland until he left for Washington. Cleveland continued to serve as Governor of New York until resigning on 1/6/1885. On the 8th, he took a special train named "The Flyer" for his home in Buffalo, where he had not been since the election. Cleveland visited with business clients and old friends, settling up his affairs before leaving on 1/16 to return to Albany. While in Albany, Cleveland worked on his inaugural address and received Democratic politicians who wanted to discuss his cabinet. Newspapers ran daily updates on rumors about the upcoming cabinet. Cleveland summoned VP-elect Hendricks to consult on the cabinet.

Thomas A. Hendricks provided a distraction to the cabinet rumors in early February. He visited with Cleveland in Albany on 1/31. He then took a train back to Indianapolis (2/1) and embarked on a brief Southern tour. He arrived in Cincinnati on 2/3, Atlanta on 2/5, and New Orleans on 2/8. On this trip, Hendricks toured Southern industrial and manufacturing concerns and attended an Exposition in New Orleans. His visits to local Democrats raised suspicions that he was confirming cabinet positions. He returned to Indianapolis on 2/17 and remained there until travelling to Washington DC on 2/28. He took a suite at Willard's Hotel in DC to await the inauguration.

While Hendricks was visiting Democrats in the South, Cleveland completed his inaugural and the cabinet. He left on 2/4 to visit Democrats in New York City (including more Senators and Representatives), and then visited with Samuel J. Tilden on his return to Albany on 2/9. Cleveland spent the remainder of the month in Albany, where two suspicious men were arrested for stalking him. Cleveland left Albany on 3/2 on an overnight train that arrived in Washington DC at 7 a.m. on 3/3, the day before the inauguration. Four bodyguards met him at the station and remained with him thereafter; they walked over a stone in the floor of the train station that marked the site where President Garfield had been shot four years earlier. Cleveland went to the Arlington Hotel, where he had a suite on the second floor overlooking Lafayette Square. He visited President Arthur in the early afternoon, who gave him a brief tour of the White House and the executive offices. Later that day, Arthur visited with Cleveland in his suite.

Inauguration Day
Washington DC was thronged with visitors for the inauguration. The final available hotel room was booked on 2/28. The New York Times reported on 3/5 that "an imposing multitude the like of which has never before seen in Washington" was on hand, with the crowd estimated at 50,000. The weather was warm, with a cloudless blue sky.

The procession to the Capitol began at 10:30 when a carriage arrived to take Cleveland to the White House; its driver was Albert Hawkins, who began his service when Grant was president. Sens. Sherman and Ransom rode in the carriage, went inside to speak briefly with Cleveland, and thereupon the three men left for the White House. A second carriage with Hendricks arrived at the White House soon thereafter, and they visited briefly with President Arthur in the Blue Room. The procession to the Capitol left the White House, driving amidst bands and cheering crowds. They drove to the Senate porch and went into the Vice President's office. Arthur signed the bills awaiting him there.

The final day's session of the 48th Congress was in session. The galleries had been cleared during a morning recess, but the galleries were opened for seating again at 10:00. Among those in the gallery was John Tyler, son of the former president. At 10:50, members of VP Hendricks's family arrived in the gallery, followed five minutes later by members of Cleveland's family. Two Civil War generals arrived at 11:30: Philip Sheridan and Winfield S. Hancock. The New York Times reported that Hancock looked in better health than four years earlier, when he attended Garfield's inauguration. At 11:35, a House bill was brought before the Senate, providing for the recognition of retired generals with a special pension. Called the Edmunds Bill, it was prompted by the failing health of Ulysses Grant. Immediate cheers resounded through the room upon the passage of the bill in the Senate. At 11:45, the hands of the Senate clock were moved back seven minutes to provide time for the final items of business. President Arthur sent his final message to Congress, appointing Grant to receive the retired pension that had just passed the Senate. Members of the Supreme Court then arrived, followed by President Arthur. Cleveland arrived at 10:52 and sat on a couch in front of the vice president's chair where Arthur was already seated. Hendricks took the oath of office at 11:54, after which PPT Edmunds addressed the Senate. When he was finished, Hendricks took the gavel and everyone rose for a lengthy prayer by the chaplain. Hendricks gave a short address to the Senate. President Arthur had called for a special session of the Senate to approve the incoming cabinet, and as the special session was now starting, new Senators took the oath. When the oaths were complete, everyone filed out around 12:30 for the presidential inauguration.

The platform that had been constructed in front of the Capitol occupied about an acre, and it was elevated about 30 feet above the grade of the lawn where thousands of faces observed the proceedings. Arthur and Cleveland appeared first, and as they approached the front of the platform, a cheer rose from the crowd that was described as "a chorus that was like the roaring of Niagara." Chief Justice Waite sat near them. The remaining seats were filled on the platform: the supreme court justices, the foreign diplomatic corps, and members of Congress.

Cleveland stood without being introduced and delivered his inaugural address from memory. When completed, Waite approached Cleveland and administered the oath of office. The Bible used had been given to Cleveland by his mother when he moved out of their home as a young man. As Cleveland shook hands with Arthur, Waite, and others on the platform, the crowd cheered again to mark the change in administration.

The inaugural procession then began. Cleveland and Arthur took the presidential carriage to the Peace Monument, which was the starting point for official processions in the Capitol. From there, they rode to the White House, where a viewing stand had been built for them. The parade lasted three hours, with 25,000 people passing the reviewing stand. At the end of the parade, Arthur hosted the inaugural lunch, his final duty as President. Arthur left the lunch to go to a room in the Frelinghuysen Hotel, where he stayed a few nights before returning to his home in New York City. The inaugural ball was held in the newly completed Pension Building, which became the site of inaugural balls for a generation. Cleveland left the ball just prior to midnight.

Major source: Thomas H. McKee, Presidential Inaugurations from George Washington 1789 to Grover Cleveland 1893 (Washington DC: Statistical Publishing Co., 1893), pp. 149-152.

Historic Trivia

  • Cleveland's inauguration was the first time in 28 years a Democratic team was inaugurated.
  • This was the eighth time in American history that an inauguration represented a change in party of the administration.
  • Cleveland was just shy of 48 years old at the time of the inauguration, making him the second youngest man to be inaugurated at that time (only Grant was younger at 46)..

Popular Vote of 1884

Electoral Vote of 1884

28th Presidential Inauguration (Arthur, 1881)

30th Presidential Inauguration (Harrison, 1889)


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