Cleveland Administrations - Career

Career

After Cleveland was admitted to the bar in 1859, he successfully practiced law in Buffalo, New York, where he became active in the Democratic Party. In 1862 he was selected as a delegate to the Democratic city convention. The same year he served in an elective office for the first time when he was elected supervisor of his ward (city electoral district). Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Erie County's assistant district attorney.

With the advent of the American Civil War (1861–65), two of Cleveland's brothers enlisted on the Union side. Grover Cleveland stayed home to provide for his mother and younger sisters. When drafted for military service, he hired a substitute to serve in his place. This practice, which was legal during the American Civil War, came back to haunt him politically after the war. Military service during the civil war defined a whole generation of politicians. With the exception of Cleveland, all...

[The entire page is 1871 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass