Rate the Presidents, Installment #22/24: Grover Cleveland

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Would actually rate him three or maybe even four stars if he just had a first term. It was classic 19th century classical liberalism. Nothing to write home about, but it was all very competent. Bad on Chinese, Blacks, and kind of tight-fisted (typical gilded age lameness); but wisely fought against corruption, imperialism and tariffs.

Unfortunately the second term was absolutely awful, vetoing voting rights bills, didn't even manage to abolish McKinley Tariff properly, goldbuggery, being well-meaning but out-of-depth in Hawaii and of course the violent suppression of the Pullman strike. Throughout it all, he was consistently unable to control the situation and was generally useless. So bad that he pretty much killed the Bourbons and indeed mainstream classical liberalism for good. (No, I don't count Alton Parker as a resounding comeback)