Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Carol Ann Strahl:
In this day of persistent investigative journalism, the secrecy covering President Grover Cleveland’s cancer surgery on a yacht in Summer 1893 would be an almost impossible task. This is just one of the many issues covered in this fact-filled expose.
Cleveland of course began his career in Buffalo as a young lawyer; eventually became Erie County Sheriff (the only U.S. President to ever have served as hangman), Mayor of Buffalo and New York Governor on the way to the Presidency. Algeo’s research into Cleveland’s early life is fascinating, detailing, despite his reputation as a highly honest anti-corruption leader, his rather suspect morality in personal matters, such as paying a substitute to enter the military in his stead during the Civil War, displaying a fondness for alcohol, and being most likely to be “found in a pool hall rather than in a pew” on Sundays. The famous story that he may have fathered an illegitimate son is fully discussed.
Other fascinating notes: he was only President to serve two non-consecutive terms in the office.
The first day he had ever set foot in Washington was the day of his swearing in as Chief Executive.
The main theme, however, is detailing the extremely elaborate cover-up devised to keep his cancer surgery (at that time such a diagnosis was a certain death sentence and political ruin) a secret, and the intrepid reporter who uncovered one of the greatest deceptions in American political history (and was virtually ruined for it). There is so much fascinating information contained in this eye-opening story. Any student of history will relish this tale.
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