Presiding Ladies of the White House

Frances Folsom Cleveland

Reading edition

TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDING LADY

1885-89—1893-97

Frances Folsom, ward of Grover Cleveland and daughter of his late law partner became his wife in 1886. She was the first President’s wife to be married in the White House and to give birth to a child there, the second daughter being born during her father’s second term. As President Cleveland was a bachelor when elected his sister, Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, presided at the White House. Beside being a literary woman she earnestly and creditably fulfilled all social demands. Mrs. Madison and Mrs. Cleveland were the youngest wives of Presidents. The latter quickly won all hearts by her ease, grace and charming manners, and upon her return in 1893, she received a hearty welcome. Since his retirement from office Ex-President Cleveland’s home has been at Princeton, New Jersey, where Mrs. Cleveland and her young daughters sustain the popularity of earlier years gained by them in the Executive Mansion at Washington.

FRANCES FOLSOM CLEVELAND

Illustration from Presiding Ladies of the White House containing biographical appreciations together with a short history of the Executive mansion and a treatise on its etiquette and customs