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The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth
On July 1, 1893, President Grover Cleveland vanished. He boarded a friend’s yacht, sailed into the calm blue waters of Long Island Sound, and--poof!--disappeared. He would not be heard from again for five days. What happened during those five days, and in the days and weeks that followed, was so incredible that, even when the truth was finally revealed, many Americans simply would not believe it.The President Is a Sick Man details an extraordinary but almost unknown chapter in American history: Grover Cleveland’s secret cancer surgery and the brazen political cover-up by a politician whose most memorable quote was “Tell the truth.” When an enterprising reporter named E. J. Edwards exposed the secret operation, Cleveland denied it. The public believed the “Honest President,” and Edwards was dismissed as “a disgrace to journalism.” The facts concerning the disappearance of Grover Cleveland that summer were so well concealed that even more than a century later a full and fair account has never been published. Until now.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2011
105 people are currently reading
4719 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Algeo
15 books118 followersWhen he's not writing his own biography in the third person, Matthew Algeo writes about unusual and interesting events in American history.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.
In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.
He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
July 27, 2022
Grover Cleveland has the unique distinction of being the only man elected President to two non-consecutive terms. He was married in the Executive Mansion and his wife – the youngest First Lady - gave birth to one Cleveland daughter there. Thus he’s the answer to several Presidential trivia questions, if he is remembered at all.
Not so trivial, on July 1st, 1893, soon after beginning his second term, President Cleveland left DC for a “vacation” on Cape Cod. En route and while aboard a ship, doctors surgically removed a cancerous tumor, several teeth and a good portion of the roof his mouth. This medical procedure was kept under wraps from the press and the American population – and is the subject of this book.
If such a presidential surgery – even a “secret” one – seems less than enough material to merit a book – even a short one – it is. And this is the first bit of good news/bad news about The President Is A Sick Man. In chronicling President Cleveland’s surgery, the author digresses – a lot – providing a multitude of historical anecdotes. The reader is treated to short quick biographical sketches of not only the President, but also the First Lady, the doctors and the press folks involved. There are brief histories of medicine, cancer and anesthesiology; the boat on which the surgery occurred; two 1893 hurricanes; the newspaper wars in New York and Philadelphia; Cleveland’s vacation home on Cape Cod and even tobacco use.
These “interruptions” occur repeatedly and will either titillate or frustrate the reader – such historical meandering depending on personal preference – personally I enjoyed many of them; other readers may not. One of the many digressions worth noting, both Charles Dana and Joseph Pulitzer – two major newspaper publishers of the time - became very vocal Cleveland opponents after he didn’t appoint friends of theirs to government positions - So much for journalistic objectivity, integrity and honor.
There is also a tendency to over-dramatize events here – at least for this reader – starting with the inevitable leak of the surgery story. One of the attending physicians, who was actually a dentist, spilled the beans not once, but twice - and the subsequent news report of the President’s surgery is described as the “Scoop of the Century” and one of the “Greatest scoops in the history of American journalism”. It should be remembered that the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination were just thirty years earlier. (It also begs the question – If it was such a “scoop”, why does virtually no one remember it?) These grandiose “interruptions” – and there are others – I found tiresome. The story in The President Is A Sick Man is fascinating enough - the excess hype is unnecessary.
As for where Cleveland’s secret surgery – and the cover-up - ranks on the “U.S. President Transgressions List” – that’s up to each reader to decide. Cleveland did make a remarkably quick recovery – and lived another 15 years. The author alludes to Cleveland’s post-surgery issues, but provides no more specifics besides the President being - unsurprisingly - cranky. As for other presidential medical/health cover-ups, the author does highlight Woodrow Wilson’s stroke – suffered on October 2, 1919 – after which Wilson completed his term in the White House. His post-stroke incapacitation is now not questioned – just the extent of it – this Presidential medical “secret” much more serious than Cleveland’s – and would make for a fascinating book.
The President Is A Sick Man is an historical potpourri, with some relevant topics of the time not covered enough, i.e. the silver vs. gold monetary discussion or The Progressive Movement, while other irrelevant ones are covered in detail – See above. And the author does seem to have an eye on entertaining as well educating the reader – which isn’t a bad thing – and he succeeds in doing both.
Not so trivial, on July 1st, 1893, soon after beginning his second term, President Cleveland left DC for a “vacation” on Cape Cod. En route and while aboard a ship, doctors surgically removed a cancerous tumor, several teeth and a good portion of the roof his mouth. This medical procedure was kept under wraps from the press and the American population – and is the subject of this book.
If such a presidential surgery – even a “secret” one – seems less than enough material to merit a book – even a short one – it is. And this is the first bit of good news/bad news about The President Is A Sick Man. In chronicling President Cleveland’s surgery, the author digresses – a lot – providing a multitude of historical anecdotes. The reader is treated to short quick biographical sketches of not only the President, but also the First Lady, the doctors and the press folks involved. There are brief histories of medicine, cancer and anesthesiology; the boat on which the surgery occurred; two 1893 hurricanes; the newspaper wars in New York and Philadelphia; Cleveland’s vacation home on Cape Cod and even tobacco use.
These “interruptions” occur repeatedly and will either titillate or frustrate the reader – such historical meandering depending on personal preference – personally I enjoyed many of them; other readers may not. One of the many digressions worth noting, both Charles Dana and Joseph Pulitzer – two major newspaper publishers of the time - became very vocal Cleveland opponents after he didn’t appoint friends of theirs to government positions - So much for journalistic objectivity, integrity and honor.
There is also a tendency to over-dramatize events here – at least for this reader – starting with the inevitable leak of the surgery story. One of the attending physicians, who was actually a dentist, spilled the beans not once, but twice - and the subsequent news report of the President’s surgery is described as the “Scoop of the Century” and one of the “Greatest scoops in the history of American journalism”. It should be remembered that the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination were just thirty years earlier. (It also begs the question – If it was such a “scoop”, why does virtually no one remember it?) These grandiose “interruptions” – and there are others – I found tiresome. The story in The President Is A Sick Man is fascinating enough - the excess hype is unnecessary.
As for where Cleveland’s secret surgery – and the cover-up - ranks on the “U.S. President Transgressions List” – that’s up to each reader to decide. Cleveland did make a remarkably quick recovery – and lived another 15 years. The author alludes to Cleveland’s post-surgery issues, but provides no more specifics besides the President being - unsurprisingly - cranky. As for other presidential medical/health cover-ups, the author does highlight Woodrow Wilson’s stroke – suffered on October 2, 1919 – after which Wilson completed his term in the White House. His post-stroke incapacitation is now not questioned – just the extent of it – this Presidential medical “secret” much more serious than Cleveland’s – and would make for a fascinating book.
The President Is A Sick Man is an historical potpourri, with some relevant topics of the time not covered enough, i.e. the silver vs. gold monetary discussion or The Progressive Movement, while other irrelevant ones are covered in detail – See above. And the author does seem to have an eye on entertaining as well educating the reader – which isn’t a bad thing – and he succeeds in doing both.
July 14, 2025
"Grover Cleveland, twice elected president of the United States, [.] a man so famously honest that perhaps his most memorable quotation is: 'Tell the truth.' But Grover Cleveland was not as honest as he (or history) would have you believe. In fact, he was no less deceitful than any successful politician, and, in the summer of 1893, he deceived the entire nation . . . " -- from the intro
Although presented as a sort of exposé - especially with its extended title - author Algeo's The President is a Sick Man works first and foremost as a biography of the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Grover Cleveland - a former sheriff and assistant district attorney who served just a single term as mayor of Buffalo, New York and then likewise as the state's governor - was perhaps best remembered for being (until early 2024, that is) the only POTUS to serve two non-consecutive stretches in office, from 1885-1889 and then 1893-1897. Early in the latter period it was alarmingly discovered that he had a cancerous growth / tumor on the roof of his mouth. Keeping this a secret to all but his young wife and a few trusted members of his inner circle, an operation was conducted - on a friend's yacht during the middle of a summer night (!) - by a small team of physicians/surgeons who removed and replaced a good portion of Cleveland's jaw and palate. Incredibly, the procedure was a success - at a time when surgery survival rates were much lower due to infection, lack of antibiotics, plus other factors - AND the entire incident went undisclosed to the public for 25 years, although an honest and crusading New York City newspaper reporter nearly broke the story before being shut down by the powers that be. Author Algeo specializes in covering the little-remembered or forgotten segments of U.S. history, and this book is another fine entry in his bibliography.
Although presented as a sort of exposé - especially with its extended title - author Algeo's The President is a Sick Man works first and foremost as a biography of the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Grover Cleveland - a former sheriff and assistant district attorney who served just a single term as mayor of Buffalo, New York and then likewise as the state's governor - was perhaps best remembered for being (until early 2024, that is) the only POTUS to serve two non-consecutive stretches in office, from 1885-1889 and then 1893-1897. Early in the latter period it was alarmingly discovered that he had a cancerous growth / tumor on the roof of his mouth. Keeping this a secret to all but his young wife and a few trusted members of his inner circle, an operation was conducted - on a friend's yacht during the middle of a summer night (!) - by a small team of physicians/surgeons who removed and replaced a good portion of Cleveland's jaw and palate. Incredibly, the procedure was a success - at a time when surgery survival rates were much lower due to infection, lack of antibiotics, plus other factors - AND the entire incident went undisclosed to the public for 25 years, although an honest and crusading New York City newspaper reporter nearly broke the story before being shut down by the powers that be. Author Algeo specializes in covering the little-remembered or forgotten segments of U.S. history, and this book is another fine entry in his bibliography.
January 31, 2014
What do Grover Cleveland and The Wizard of Oz have in common? This is the best type in non fiction, one that mixes facts, humor and informational tidbits into a wonderfully readable book. I have always read, what seems to be the same Presidents over and over again, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington, Jackson, Adams and Jefferson so this year I have decided to branch out. With that in mind I picked this one up and am so glad I did.
So many things I never knew, that the debate over the gold and silver standard almost resulted in another civil war. That this President had a reputation for his honesty, above all else, and yet had a secret cancer surgery aboard a yacht and kept it all secret from the public and his vice-president. A newsman who uncovered the story from a loose tongued doctor, had his reputation nearly ruined. The two huge hurricane's that hit the East Coast, one destroying Coney Island and many other houses, the other devastating the Gullahs, Sea Island, where many of them perished. So much more, and a little trivia and humor as well.
Felt I received a non partisan look at a time and a man that turned out to be the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. Sometimes I think the US prospers, not because of their leaders but in spite of them.
I would recommend this book to any lover of history.
So many things I never knew, that the debate over the gold and silver standard almost resulted in another civil war. That this President had a reputation for his honesty, above all else, and yet had a secret cancer surgery aboard a yacht and kept it all secret from the public and his vice-president. A newsman who uncovered the story from a loose tongued doctor, had his reputation nearly ruined. The two huge hurricane's that hit the East Coast, one destroying Coney Island and many other houses, the other devastating the Gullahs, Sea Island, where many of them perished. So much more, and a little trivia and humor as well.
Felt I received a non partisan look at a time and a man that turned out to be the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. Sometimes I think the US prospers, not because of their leaders but in spite of them.
I would recommend this book to any lover of history.
July 29, 2016
19th century presidents, they're just like us! Ok, so maybe that's not exactly true, but The President Is a Sick Man tells a story of aggressive "journalists" (who, if it weren't for the whole needing subjects to sit still for minutes on end, would definitely have been paparazzi), celebrities avoiding the limelight, financial crises, media coverups and pretty much the gamut of affairs that, today, are covered in US Weekly and Politico.
Author Matthew Algeo may have been overstating his case when he referred to it as a “brazen political cover-up that was as diabolical as—and infinitely more successful than—Watergate.” Nonetheless, a secret surgery done on the head of state on a boat no less, definitely makes for an interesting tale. Algeo spices it up with elements of the history of journalism and paper wars, modern takes on olden-timey medicine, tidbits of trivia (e.g. trends in facial hair in the oval office), and “The rumor mill—one of the few thriving industries left in the country—[which] resumed full-scale production.”
Points of interest and such:
I could care less about age gaps in relationships between consenting adults. However, Cleveland and Frances’ history together made theirs a union that was uniquely creepy (well, maybe not uniquely- shoutout to Woody Allen and Soon Yi). I’ll elaborate:
1. When Cleveland’s BFF, Folsom’s, wife gave birth to their first daughter “Cleveland...bought her a baby carriage and doted on her as if she were his own.”
2. When Folsom met his early demise, “Cleveland was named the executor of Folsom’s estate, and he came to feel a special obligation to Folsom’s widow and her eleven-year-old daughter Frances.”
3. He had practically been her guardian after her father was killed in a carriage accident. He had bought her a puppy when she was a little girl, and she’d called him Uncle Cleve.
4. Here’s the real kicker. When encouraged by his family to settle-down around this same time “He told his sisters, rather cryptically, ‘I’m only waiting for my wife to grow up.’”
The parts of the book focusing on the history of medicine and to the social stigma surrounding cancer (aka “the dread disease”) were fascinating for this science studies aficionado.
While it was uncouth to discuss the big C in polite company, this didn’t stop people from profiteering with purported remedies.
Given his invocation of the social stigma parallels between AIDS in the 80s and early 90s and cancer in Cleveland’s era, I found it difficult to see the cover up as being as dastardly as Algeo portrayed it. (Has he seen Philadelphia?)
The financial climate (which was pretty dire) made the potential consequences of public panic very real:
Archer reference, because I just can’t help myself:
"Grover Cleveland called. He wants his watch back. He left two non-consecutive messages."
Author Matthew Algeo may have been overstating his case when he referred to it as a “brazen political cover-up that was as diabolical as—and infinitely more successful than—Watergate.” Nonetheless, a secret surgery done on the head of state on a boat no less, definitely makes for an interesting tale. Algeo spices it up with elements of the history of journalism and paper wars, modern takes on olden-timey medicine, tidbits of trivia (e.g. trends in facial hair in the oval office), and “The rumor mill—one of the few thriving industries left in the country—[which] resumed full-scale production.”
Points of interest and such:
I could care less about age gaps in relationships between consenting adults. However, Cleveland and Frances’ history together made theirs a union that was uniquely creepy (well, maybe not uniquely- shoutout to Woody Allen and Soon Yi). I’ll elaborate:
1. When Cleveland’s BFF, Folsom’s, wife gave birth to their first daughter “Cleveland...bought her a baby carriage and doted on her as if she were his own.”
2. When Folsom met his early demise, “Cleveland was named the executor of Folsom’s estate, and he came to feel a special obligation to Folsom’s widow and her eleven-year-old daughter Frances.”
3. He had practically been her guardian after her father was killed in a carriage accident. He had bought her a puppy when she was a little girl, and she’d called him Uncle Cleve.
4. Here’s the real kicker. When encouraged by his family to settle-down around this same time “He told his sisters, rather cryptically, ‘I’m only waiting for my wife to grow up.’”
The parts of the book focusing on the history of medicine and to the social stigma surrounding cancer (aka “the dread disease”) were fascinating for this science studies aficionado.
Much like AIDS a century later, the stigma attached to cancer was so deep and profound that people who had it were embarrassed or afraid to admit it.
While it was uncouth to discuss the big C in polite company, this didn’t stop people from profiteering with purported remedies.
Folk remedies abounded as well. One called for the hand of a dead man to be placed on the tumor. Another prescribed the head of a puppy, dried and powdered and mixed with honey, to be applied to the growth.
Given his invocation of the social stigma parallels between AIDS in the 80s and early 90s and cancer in Cleveland’s era, I found it difficult to see the cover up as being as dastardly as Algeo portrayed it. (Has he seen Philadelphia?)
The financial climate (which was pretty dire) made the potential consequences of public panic very real:
Cleveland was not being vain. It was widely believed that his health and the nation’s health were inextricably linked.Thus, I was disinclined to jump on Algeo’s journalists rule, politicians drool bandwagon.
Archer reference, because I just can’t help myself:
"Grover Cleveland called. He wants his watch back. He left two non-consecutive messages."
April 13, 2024
Incredibly Detailed
What a surprise for me. This book is 100% fact but reads like a detective novel. Kudos to the author.
Great writing; in depth research and precisely documented all make a wonderful read.
What a surprise for me. This book is 100% fact but reads like a detective novel. Kudos to the author.
Great writing; in depth research and precisely documented all make a wonderful read.
April 17, 2024
This was a fascinating non fiction about a secret surgery performed on Grover Cleveland in 1893 to remove a cancerous growth in his mouth. The surgery was carried out on a yacht under total secrecy. When a reporter accidentally found out about it, he was widely vilified for his “fake” and sensational story. Finally, in 1917, one of the surgeons wrote about the operation in The Saturday Evening Post. A long kept secret, indeed.
September 27, 2016
"Still, even in 1893, it was rather unusual for the president to go missing."
I'm breaking my own rule (5 stars only for a book I plan to re-read) but I found this book so appealing that I couldn't be stingy with 4 stars.
Why did I love it? He transported me to the last decade of the nineteenth century. The only other author who opened up this time period to me is Barbara Tuchman in The Proud Tower. Algeo's sense of humor suffuses the pages.
The central focus of the book is the secret operation to remove oral cancer from President Cleveland's mouth, the prevarications proclaimed to deny it happened, and the distant relative of Jonathan Edwards who broke the story in a Philadelphia newspaper.
Algeo takes two-page excursions on bypaths. Thoroughly delightful! It might be General Grant, the changing fashion of facial hair, Dr. Josef Lister—a Scottish surgeon who changed the landscape of antiseptic surgery—, or the possibility L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz is a parable on the struggle between Silver and Gold as the standard of the money supply.
I'm grateful to have a clearer idea of who Grover Cleveland was besides that he was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. He got a reputation for honesty when he responded with the truth to claims that he had fathered a child out of wedlock. I also enjoyed learning about Dr. William Keen, the premier surgeon of the day.
Just for fun, here is a list from the 1870 Yale yearbook on the student's facial hair:
Moustache, 26
Sides, 19
Down (quite down), 18
Moustache and sides, 13
Hopeful scrags, 12
Incipient hairs, 9
Moustache and imperial, 6
Shave daily with no result, 3
Moustache and whiskers, 3
Fuzzy in spots, 2
Feels confident that the soil is good, 1
Is applying blisters, 1
If you enjoy popular history, I'd highly recommend this book.
I'm breaking my own rule (5 stars only for a book I plan to re-read) but I found this book so appealing that I couldn't be stingy with 4 stars.
Why did I love it? He transported me to the last decade of the nineteenth century. The only other author who opened up this time period to me is Barbara Tuchman in The Proud Tower. Algeo's sense of humor suffuses the pages.
The central focus of the book is the secret operation to remove oral cancer from President Cleveland's mouth, the prevarications proclaimed to deny it happened, and the distant relative of Jonathan Edwards who broke the story in a Philadelphia newspaper.
Algeo takes two-page excursions on bypaths. Thoroughly delightful! It might be General Grant, the changing fashion of facial hair, Dr. Josef Lister—a Scottish surgeon who changed the landscape of antiseptic surgery—, or the possibility L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz is a parable on the struggle between Silver and Gold as the standard of the money supply.
I'm grateful to have a clearer idea of who Grover Cleveland was besides that he was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. He got a reputation for honesty when he responded with the truth to claims that he had fathered a child out of wedlock. I also enjoyed learning about Dr. William Keen, the premier surgeon of the day.
Just for fun, here is a list from the 1870 Yale yearbook on the student's facial hair:
Moustache, 26
Sides, 19
Down (quite down), 18
Moustache and sides, 13
Hopeful scrags, 12
Incipient hairs, 9
Moustache and imperial, 6
Shave daily with no result, 3
Moustache and whiskers, 3
Fuzzy in spots, 2
Feels confident that the soil is good, 1
Is applying blisters, 1
If you enjoy popular history, I'd highly recommend this book.
September 24, 2012
The easy to read narrative with interesting human interest side stories, belies the depth of what is presented. While the focus is President Grover Cleveland's secret operation in 1893, the author relates how the President's health and the resulting pressures on him influenced the gold/silver debate and may have influenced the course of labor history.
Author Matthew Algeo begins with a brief background of Grover Cleveland, his family and how his career began in Buffalo, NY. Eventually he became president and served two non-consecutive terms. In the fifth month of his second term, a growth in his mouth necessitated an operation. Unlike President Garfield 12 years before him ( Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President), President Cleveland received excellent medical care. His doctors who knew and understood recent discoveries regarding germs and insisted on sterile conditions. For secrecy, the operation took place on a boat with the cover story that the President was sailing to his vacation home, fishing along the way.
This happened in the period now known as the Panic of 1893, the economy was in shambles and passions were high. Western states wanted a repeal of gold standard legislation and the eastern banking establishment wanted to keep the gold standard. President Cleveland would be a reliable veto if repeal were to pass the House and Senate. Were he to die, Vice President Adelai Stevenson, a supporter of silver would sign a repeal, so the President's health was an issue. Any rumors of ill health could sway wavering legislators.
Following the successful operation and vote against repeal, was a period of labor unrest. Did the President's condition color his judgment in dealing unions and strikes?
There are some insights into the nature of the press at the time. It was easier for the White House to avoid the press than it is today. It is interesting how the reporters colluded to establish their facts. The narrative also shows how rival papers worked to discredit the competition.
Well selected photos are inserted along with the text and add to the book.
At the end there is something like an ad for another book by this author.
This little book, on what may seem a small bit of history, covers a lot of ground. I recommend it for the general reader with interest in this period.
Author Matthew Algeo begins with a brief background of Grover Cleveland, his family and how his career began in Buffalo, NY. Eventually he became president and served two non-consecutive terms. In the fifth month of his second term, a growth in his mouth necessitated an operation. Unlike President Garfield 12 years before him ( Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President), President Cleveland received excellent medical care. His doctors who knew and understood recent discoveries regarding germs and insisted on sterile conditions. For secrecy, the operation took place on a boat with the cover story that the President was sailing to his vacation home, fishing along the way.
This happened in the period now known as the Panic of 1893, the economy was in shambles and passions were high. Western states wanted a repeal of gold standard legislation and the eastern banking establishment wanted to keep the gold standard. President Cleveland would be a reliable veto if repeal were to pass the House and Senate. Were he to die, Vice President Adelai Stevenson, a supporter of silver would sign a repeal, so the President's health was an issue. Any rumors of ill health could sway wavering legislators.
Following the successful operation and vote against repeal, was a period of labor unrest. Did the President's condition color his judgment in dealing unions and strikes?
There are some insights into the nature of the press at the time. It was easier for the White House to avoid the press than it is today. It is interesting how the reporters colluded to establish their facts. The narrative also shows how rival papers worked to discredit the competition.
Well selected photos are inserted along with the text and add to the book.
At the end there is something like an ad for another book by this author.
This little book, on what may seem a small bit of history, covers a lot of ground. I recommend it for the general reader with interest in this period.
September 25, 2016
With all the media focus on the presidential candidates' health, it seemed an appropriate time to read this book. I love reading about science and medicine. So reading about this secret operation on President Cleveland and 19th century medicine was a pleasure.
Without a doubt, the health of the president can have a major impact on the world economy, foreign relations, and mood of the country. Mr. Edwards, the newspaper writer who broke this story, reported it without sensationalism and just offering a reasoned account of the facts. He did not deserve the trashing of his reputation that followed. Was the cover up necessary? Yes probably because of all the panic that would have followed the truth given the deep fear of cancer.
Fascinating reading about medicine, the age of silver and gold, the Sugar Trust, and 19th century politics.
Without a doubt, the health of the president can have a major impact on the world economy, foreign relations, and mood of the country. Mr. Edwards, the newspaper writer who broke this story, reported it without sensationalism and just offering a reasoned account of the facts. He did not deserve the trashing of his reputation that followed. Was the cover up necessary? Yes probably because of all the panic that would have followed the truth given the deep fear of cancer.
Fascinating reading about medicine, the age of silver and gold, the Sugar Trust, and 19th century politics.
March 10, 2017
There are so many great stories about presidents that absolutely nobody cares about.
April 4, 2023
A fast-paced and fun read to dip your toes into the obscure waters of Grover Cleveland. Cleveland, who distinguished himself as an honest man, was anything but when he concealed a secret surgery to remove an oral tumor in a yacht off the shores of the Long Island Sound. Fearing the news would accelerate The Panic of 1893, the country's first great depression, Cleveland boarded the Oneida to have the operation in secret, claiming he was going on an extended fishing trip in route to his vacation home near Cape Cod. Mathew Algeo portrays all the details of this secret operation, how the story was uncovered, and the journalist's reputation who uncovered it was ruined and later vindicated.
July 3, 2011
I've told the story of President Grover Cleveland's secret oral cancer surgery to my college history students for yers and this book gives a complete historical account of this little-known episode in American history and places it into its historical context in a very readable and interesting way. Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms and shortly after beginning his second term in 1893, he discovered a growth on the roof of his mouth. Unfortunately, the country was in economic free-fall, the Panic of 1893, and Cleveland feared that news of his cancer would "utterly shatter" public confidence and have serious economic repercussions. As a result, it was decided that the operation would be performed in secret. On July 1, 1893, President Cleveland went on board the Oneida, a luxury yacht owned by a friend on which he had frequently sailed for fishing trips, for a five day vacation and fishing cruise on Long Island Sound. While on board, a team of surgeons removed the cancerous tumor from the roof of his mouth along with several teeth and part of his upper jaw. Then Cleveland was taken to his summer home, Gray Gables, on the southern tip of Cape Cod to recuperate from the operation and get used to wearing the dental device that would allow him to speak properly after the surgery. An enterprising reporter, E.J. Edwards uncovered the story and published a full account of the secret operation in the Philadelphia Press. However, he was viciously attacked by many other journalists because of Cleveland's reputation for "telling the truth" (his most famous quote--it was his response to his supporters when it was uncovered that may have fathered an illegitimate child during the campaign of 1884). Leading the attack, Alexander McClure of the Philadelphia Times attacked Edwards as a "disgrace to journalism". The truth wasn't revealed until 1917 when Dr. W.W. Keen received permission from Frances Cleveland Preston, Cleveland's widow, and published an account of the surgery in the Saturday Evening Post. E.J. Edwards was able to bask in the glow of the vindication of his reporting for 7 years until his death in 1924. An interesting account of a specific event that contributes to an on-going discussion of the impact of presidential health on political events and how much information the public should be given.
May 3, 2015
3.5 stars.
It always interests me to read about our past Presidents and their relationships with the media, knowing how the media treats them today – that absolutely nothing is off-limits. Don’t know how it’s evolved into this or that I agree with these current practices. I always go back to FDR with his polio, how he would be shown standing at a podium on his own two legs (albeit with much hidden support), and the media respectfully agreeing to never photograph him in a wheelchair or struggling in any way. Thanks to the media, who loved FDR, the public at large was ignorant of the extent of his malady. But before FDR, they were not always so respectful if they didn’t like the President.
Here we have Grover Cleveland, who is popular in games of trivia because there are many interesting and unique factoids about him. Grover is discovered to have a cancer at the roof of his mouth, and this is back when no one even liked to think about the C word, much less say it out loud. It’s also not long after cancer ravaged poor old U.S. Grant, and everyone saw it. So when a reigning Prez gets seriously ill, do you really want to risk pandemonium and the political and economic repercussions by making it public knowledge? Or do you let just a few select people know about it and toss out a pack of lies to the public? The doctors and the administration opt to keep it a secret, except that one doctor spills the beans after feeling slighted, and, oh, what a sticky web they have created. This is about midway into the book and the damage control kicks into high gear, but the book sort of went the opposite direction for me after that point.
Still a very good piece of non-fiction if you’d like to learn more about our Presidents or if you ever wonder about the public’s “right to know.”
It always interests me to read about our past Presidents and their relationships with the media, knowing how the media treats them today – that absolutely nothing is off-limits. Don’t know how it’s evolved into this or that I agree with these current practices. I always go back to FDR with his polio, how he would be shown standing at a podium on his own two legs (albeit with much hidden support), and the media respectfully agreeing to never photograph him in a wheelchair or struggling in any way. Thanks to the media, who loved FDR, the public at large was ignorant of the extent of his malady. But before FDR, they were not always so respectful if they didn’t like the President.
Here we have Grover Cleveland, who is popular in games of trivia because there are many interesting and unique factoids about him. Grover is discovered to have a cancer at the roof of his mouth, and this is back when no one even liked to think about the C word, much less say it out loud. It’s also not long after cancer ravaged poor old U.S. Grant, and everyone saw it. So when a reigning Prez gets seriously ill, do you really want to risk pandemonium and the political and economic repercussions by making it public knowledge? Or do you let just a few select people know about it and toss out a pack of lies to the public? The doctors and the administration opt to keep it a secret, except that one doctor spills the beans after feeling slighted, and, oh, what a sticky web they have created. This is about midway into the book and the damage control kicks into high gear, but the book sort of went the opposite direction for me after that point.
Still a very good piece of non-fiction if you’d like to learn more about our Presidents or if you ever wonder about the public’s “right to know.”
December 1, 2016
I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways. I had only heard of the story about President Cleveland's surgery a few years ago on a television show. When this book became available I could not wait to read more on the issue, though college kept me from getting through it as soon as I would have liked. Up until that previously mentioned TV show I did not know that one of our Presidents had a cancerous growth removed from his mouth, and did everything he could to hide it, including completely ruining the journalist who found out about it and tried to report on it. I really enjoyed reading about a president that I really did not know much about and how his actual personality compared to how he was portrayed to the public. The book is also a good illustration on how journalists tried not to step on the toes of those in power, prior to the 1960's in America. This is a good book to find out about a part of history that has been largely ignored until now.
November 8, 2015
I was really impressed with the first book I read by Algeo (Pedestrianism) and wanted to see how he would handle another favorite topic of mine besides sports, which is history and politics.
I couldn't find Algeo at my BigBox local store so off to Amazon I went. Algeo seems to have a knack like Sarah Vowell to find some obscure but very interesting stories hidden deep in the past (though Algeo, doesn't put his political beliefs on his sleeve like Vowell does. PiaSM is largely non-partisan).
History books tend to skip the period from Civil War to at least Teddy Roosevelt, if not to World War 1. There are a series of Presidents, mostly Republican, mostly one term, mostly bearded, and mostly from Ohio. One suspects if there is any story to tell, it would be in Grover Cleveland, the guy who shows up twice on those free Presidential rulers your teacher or bank gave you.
The truth is the Executive Branch was not particularly powerful in those years, which is reflected in some of the Men who held it not seeming to be particularly interested in staying in office.
The other part is that the major issue of the day was the currency issue, and the whole gold vs silver debate is confusing. Although this contradicts what I just said about History books above, I have actually been reading a lot of books focused on the late 19th Century. Credit to Algeo for probably the best description of both sides of that debate I have read, and why people felt strongly either for a Silver or Gold Standard.
Cleveland is an interesting character and a stronger leader than some of his predecessors. He is very Conservative and would do well today with those against government "handouts". The book revolves around a story of the time in which Cleveland discovers a tumor in his mouth, and improbably, keeps it hidden by having it removed during what appears to outsiders as a boating trip.
Because of the subject matter, we get background on 19th century medicine, surgery, dentistry, and anesthesia, as well as the politics of the day. All fascinating material for history buffs.
President Grant had died of cancer, and there was an extreme stigma around it, so it would have rocked the Nation if it had been let out. Similarly, the balance of Gold supporters and Silverites was within a few votes. Even in Cleveland's party were the supporters of William Jennings Bryan, and Cleveland's Vice President (the first Adlai Stevenson) was sympathetic. The Panic of 1893 (the country's worst financial crisis besides the Great Depression) makes things shaky as it is.
So, it is a cover up, and things go well. Things go well with the surgery- which is even amazing by today's standards- and things go well with the cover up. There are plenty of distractions like the birth of Cleveland's daughter, plus also an attitude in the press not to rock the boat so to speak.
Meanwhile, a journalist named EJ Edwards finds the truth out and publishes it. He's vilified for it for many years, and the public believe the "always honest" Cleveland.
It makes for a very interesting story. It also brings to mind questions which I don't know the answer to. Is it better or worse for the public to know? If the public knew the real situation, it indeed may have made the economy worse, and given that Cleveland survived, would have been an unnecessary scare. Yet, we value the truth over all else, right?
A really interesting book for all of the reasons above, and well recommended for history buffs who will be well engrossed into it.
I couldn't find Algeo at my BigBox local store so off to Amazon I went. Algeo seems to have a knack like Sarah Vowell to find some obscure but very interesting stories hidden deep in the past (though Algeo, doesn't put his political beliefs on his sleeve like Vowell does. PiaSM is largely non-partisan).
History books tend to skip the period from Civil War to at least Teddy Roosevelt, if not to World War 1. There are a series of Presidents, mostly Republican, mostly one term, mostly bearded, and mostly from Ohio. One suspects if there is any story to tell, it would be in Grover Cleveland, the guy who shows up twice on those free Presidential rulers your teacher or bank gave you.
The truth is the Executive Branch was not particularly powerful in those years, which is reflected in some of the Men who held it not seeming to be particularly interested in staying in office.
The other part is that the major issue of the day was the currency issue, and the whole gold vs silver debate is confusing. Although this contradicts what I just said about History books above, I have actually been reading a lot of books focused on the late 19th Century. Credit to Algeo for probably the best description of both sides of that debate I have read, and why people felt strongly either for a Silver or Gold Standard.
Cleveland is an interesting character and a stronger leader than some of his predecessors. He is very Conservative and would do well today with those against government "handouts". The book revolves around a story of the time in which Cleveland discovers a tumor in his mouth, and improbably, keeps it hidden by having it removed during what appears to outsiders as a boating trip.
Because of the subject matter, we get background on 19th century medicine, surgery, dentistry, and anesthesia, as well as the politics of the day. All fascinating material for history buffs.
President Grant had died of cancer, and there was an extreme stigma around it, so it would have rocked the Nation if it had been let out. Similarly, the balance of Gold supporters and Silverites was within a few votes. Even in Cleveland's party were the supporters of William Jennings Bryan, and Cleveland's Vice President (the first Adlai Stevenson) was sympathetic. The Panic of 1893 (the country's worst financial crisis besides the Great Depression) makes things shaky as it is.
So, it is a cover up, and things go well. Things go well with the surgery- which is even amazing by today's standards- and things go well with the cover up. There are plenty of distractions like the birth of Cleveland's daughter, plus also an attitude in the press not to rock the boat so to speak.
Meanwhile, a journalist named EJ Edwards finds the truth out and publishes it. He's vilified for it for many years, and the public believe the "always honest" Cleveland.
It makes for a very interesting story. It also brings to mind questions which I don't know the answer to. Is it better or worse for the public to know? If the public knew the real situation, it indeed may have made the economy worse, and given that Cleveland survived, would have been an unnecessary scare. Yet, we value the truth over all else, right?
A really interesting book for all of the reasons above, and well recommended for history buffs who will be well engrossed into it.
October 15, 2011
I loved this book. Algeo is a fabulous writer, and he tells a story so smoothly that you're pulled along scarcely noticing the pages turning beneath your fingertips. I've been reading a lot of books that deal with the late 19th and early 20th centuries because I think in some key ways, the political, social, and economic climates we're experiencing now are mimicking those of that time period.
Here, Algeo takes us into the life of President Cleveland and a surgery he arranged secretly to remove a tumor from his mouth. Had the public known of this, no doubt there would have been some serious media freak-out that most likely would have stirred doubt about Cleveland's abilities to govern and as the country was in the midst of one of the worst economic depressions in history, Cleveland needed to present a healthy constitution to keep the spirits of the American people up. Algeo captures the mood perfectly, and plops us right down into the 19th century.
So not only is this a book about American politics, it's also a medical history because surgery in the late 19th century was a gambler's bet, but the team Cleveland assembled gives the reader insight to medicine and procedures of the time. Fascinating stuff.
One intrepid reporter, however, figured out what Cleveland was up to. However, when he broke the story, the president and his posse refuted it completely, and basically ruined the reputation of the reporter. Ironically, the "honest president" kept the secret about his surgery. Read this book and find out how it all went down. Great stuff.
Here, Algeo takes us into the life of President Cleveland and a surgery he arranged secretly to remove a tumor from his mouth. Had the public known of this, no doubt there would have been some serious media freak-out that most likely would have stirred doubt about Cleveland's abilities to govern and as the country was in the midst of one of the worst economic depressions in history, Cleveland needed to present a healthy constitution to keep the spirits of the American people up. Algeo captures the mood perfectly, and plops us right down into the 19th century.
So not only is this a book about American politics, it's also a medical history because surgery in the late 19th century was a gambler's bet, but the team Cleveland assembled gives the reader insight to medicine and procedures of the time. Fascinating stuff.
One intrepid reporter, however, figured out what Cleveland was up to. However, when he broke the story, the president and his posse refuted it completely, and basically ruined the reputation of the reporter. Ironically, the "honest president" kept the secret about his surgery. Read this book and find out how it all went down. Great stuff.
December 19, 2019
A rather bizarre history of a rather bizarre incident.
The only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms of office, Cleveland is found to have cancer. He secretly has the growth removed, and returns to the office as if nothing ever happened. A reporter tells the story and is savaged.
The author is on some sort of high horse about the freedom of the press, but I found this problematic. Let's be honest here, some of the last people to care about the first amendment these days are journalists. Cleveland's relationship with the press puts the lie to everything they say about Trump's "assault" on the press.
While the author does go into some detail about how other presidents hid various illnesses, he eschews talking about FDR's polio, and how the press colluded with him to conceal it from the public, as well as JFK's various illnesses. I found this rather strange.
On the other hand, the author does explain the way cancer was perceived during the time frame, an important part of the President's decision.
Educational, but incomplete.
The only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms of office, Cleveland is found to have cancer. He secretly has the growth removed, and returns to the office as if nothing ever happened. A reporter tells the story and is savaged.
The author is on some sort of high horse about the freedom of the press, but I found this problematic. Let's be honest here, some of the last people to care about the first amendment these days are journalists. Cleveland's relationship with the press puts the lie to everything they say about Trump's "assault" on the press.
While the author does go into some detail about how other presidents hid various illnesses, he eschews talking about FDR's polio, and how the press colluded with him to conceal it from the public, as well as JFK's various illnesses. I found this rather strange.
On the other hand, the author does explain the way cancer was perceived during the time frame, an important part of the President's decision.
Educational, but incomplete.
January 26, 2012
Great book. I haven't read anything about Grover Cleveland beyond what I learned in school so much of this info was new to me. I think of this book as an hour glass...in terms of how the story was delivered. Starting wide at the top introducing all the characters and their lives as they slowly started coming together for subject of the story--Cleveland's secret operation. Then how the characters drift apart and move away from the event until everyone's final conclusion thereby wrapping up all the individual life stories. All in all, I thought it well written and it kept my interest throughout.
November 27, 2012
This book worked on a number of levels. The author focuses on the secret cancer operation of Grover Cleveland, but also explored 19th century attitudes towards both cancer and the public's right to know about the president's health; the evolution of American journalism and a reporter's right to protect sources; the battle between gold and silver forces; the role of various First Ladies; and more. I did not know much about the Cleveland presidency before I read the book and when finished, I was surprised at how much I had learned.
March 26, 2015
This has been on my Kindle for years, and I decided to pull the trigger on it finally.
This was an enjoyable read for the biographical data of Cleveland, the drama of the secret, the at-sea operation and the the afterward.
This was an enjoyable read for the biographical data of Cleveland, the drama of the secret, the at-sea operation and the the afterward.
May 21, 2024
A very interesting look into the exceptional secret surgery performed on Grover Cleveland while also providing lots of context for the America of the 1890s and all the drama to go with it. A crazy story about a time in American history I personally am not well acquainted with written by an author who manages to weave in a surprising amount of suspense and humor.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
February 16, 2018
A story: I brought this book to a week-long training in West Virginia where a bunch of U.S. government people were in attendance. I wasn't feeling terribly social while I was there, so I did quite a bit of reading during the breaks and the lunch hour (it helped that the book was really good). Over the course of the week, I had no fewer than six people come up to me and tell me they had heard about this book and wanted to know how it was.
My first thought upon hearing this sentiment was, "Why on earth have you heard about this book?" It's about Grover Cleveland getting a tumor removed from his jaw and then hiding it from the American people. I'VE barely heard of this book. I don't even remember what compelled me to add it to my to-read list. The whole thing was mystifying.
And that's when I realized (and quickly confirmed): PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT TRUMP. It's the title: The President is a Sick Man. Apparently people thought it was a book on the mental state of our current President.
It's not. But I'd argue you'll enjoy this one much more.
I'm always a little wary of books like this, that find some historical nugget that is maybe worth a New Yorker article that they then stretch into a book with a lot of unnecessary padding. This has always been one of Tom's standard complaints and apparently I've adopted it too. Well, I'm pleased to say that The President is a Sick Man more or less totally sidesteps this common pitfall. Yes, there are some tangents, but they all tie directly back into the story that Matthew Algeo is trying to tell. A chapter about late 19th century attitudes towards cancer (a death sentence that was considered taboo to discuss) ties directly into the larger narrative, which is President Grover Cleveland choosing to lie to his Cabinet and the public about his health and whereabouts and sneak off to a yacht on Long Island Sound to have a tumor in his jaw removed. Similarly, Algeo also knits in chapters on the economy during President Cleveland's administration (in the midst of a panic, which he didn't want to exacerbate with his poor health news) and how other presidents have treated health problems while in office.
This story is a fascinating little bit of history, and I got to learn about an era I don't know much about. I was also terribly glad to be introduced to Grover Cleveland, who came across as one of the most all-around decent* individuals to ever hold the office. As a bonus, it's also accessibly written and I found the pages just flew.
Here's the wildest part though: the tumor and accompanying one-third of Cleveland's jaw that was also removed are still around! They are in the Mütter Museum, a medical museum in Philly that I've been dying to go to for years. I now have yet another specific artifact to seek out when I finally visit.
*I do take a bit of issue with the title. Namely, that the word "vilifies" is totally misused. Yes, Cleveland and his administration denied the cancer and the surgery, but they were in no way disparaging or abusive towards journalists who were reporting otherwise.
My first thought upon hearing this sentiment was, "Why on earth have you heard about this book?" It's about Grover Cleveland getting a tumor removed from his jaw and then hiding it from the American people. I'VE barely heard of this book. I don't even remember what compelled me to add it to my to-read list. The whole thing was mystifying.
And that's when I realized (and quickly confirmed): PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT TRUMP. It's the title: The President is a Sick Man. Apparently people thought it was a book on the mental state of our current President.
It's not. But I'd argue you'll enjoy this one much more.
I'm always a little wary of books like this, that find some historical nugget that is maybe worth a New Yorker article that they then stretch into a book with a lot of unnecessary padding. This has always been one of Tom's standard complaints and apparently I've adopted it too. Well, I'm pleased to say that The President is a Sick Man more or less totally sidesteps this common pitfall. Yes, there are some tangents, but they all tie directly back into the story that Matthew Algeo is trying to tell. A chapter about late 19th century attitudes towards cancer (a death sentence that was considered taboo to discuss) ties directly into the larger narrative, which is President Grover Cleveland choosing to lie to his Cabinet and the public about his health and whereabouts and sneak off to a yacht on Long Island Sound to have a tumor in his jaw removed. Similarly, Algeo also knits in chapters on the economy during President Cleveland's administration (in the midst of a panic, which he didn't want to exacerbate with his poor health news) and how other presidents have treated health problems while in office.
This story is a fascinating little bit of history, and I got to learn about an era I don't know much about. I was also terribly glad to be introduced to Grover Cleveland, who came across as one of the most all-around decent* individuals to ever hold the office. As a bonus, it's also accessibly written and I found the pages just flew.
Here's the wildest part though: the tumor and accompanying one-third of Cleveland's jaw that was also removed are still around! They are in the Mütter Museum, a medical museum in Philly that I've been dying to go to for years. I now have yet another specific artifact to seek out when I finally visit.
*I do take a bit of issue with the title. Namely, that the word "vilifies" is totally misused. Yes, Cleveland and his administration denied the cancer and the surgery, but they were in no way disparaging or abusive towards journalists who were reporting otherwise.
May 4, 2017
I have read a number of biographies of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) and of his wife Frances. He is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. His secret surgery was discussed in all of the biographies. Matthew Algeo has limited his book to information about this secret surgery. He also provides a review of medical problems of presidents while in office. Algeo gives a brief review of Cleveland’s past to provide an understanding of the man and life in the 19th century.
Cleveland was in a contentious political struggle over whether the U.S. should return to the gold standard to back its money (Cleveland’s position) or continue with a policy that also accepted silver, the view of his Vice-President Adlai Stevenson (1835-1914). Cleveland feared should he become incapacitated, Stevenson would assume power and sway the country’s financial direction. In his second term, Cleveland had surgery to remove an oral tumor from his palate. This surgery was performed in secret on a yacht. Cleveland and associates denied a reporter’s claim he had cancer surgery and stated it was a tooth removal only.
In 1975, a pathologist examined the oral tumor that was preserved in a Philadelphia museum. They stated it was a verrucous carcinoma, a rare, slow-growing cancer. This type of cancer primarily occurs in the mouth of smokers or tobacco chewers. Cleveland was a cigar chomper. In Cleveland’s time cancer had a social stigma and was not discussed.
The book is well written and researched. Algeo is a journalist and his writing is in the style of a reporter. It is easy to read and makes for a quick read. The author may have overstated his point, but otherwise the book followed the historical facts.
I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad. It was 273 pages long.
Cleveland was in a contentious political struggle over whether the U.S. should return to the gold standard to back its money (Cleveland’s position) or continue with a policy that also accepted silver, the view of his Vice-President Adlai Stevenson (1835-1914). Cleveland feared should he become incapacitated, Stevenson would assume power and sway the country’s financial direction. In his second term, Cleveland had surgery to remove an oral tumor from his palate. This surgery was performed in secret on a yacht. Cleveland and associates denied a reporter’s claim he had cancer surgery and stated it was a tooth removal only.
In 1975, a pathologist examined the oral tumor that was preserved in a Philadelphia museum. They stated it was a verrucous carcinoma, a rare, slow-growing cancer. This type of cancer primarily occurs in the mouth of smokers or tobacco chewers. Cleveland was a cigar chomper. In Cleveland’s time cancer had a social stigma and was not discussed.
The book is well written and researched. Algeo is a journalist and his writing is in the style of a reporter. It is easy to read and makes for a quick read. The author may have overstated his point, but otherwise the book followed the historical facts.
I read this as an e-book on my Kindle app for my iPad. It was 273 pages long.
December 6, 2012
Matthew Algeo’s “The President Is a Sick Man” is popular history writing at its best, illuminating a long forgotten piece of American history with careful research and thoughtful insight. Why Grover Cleveland sought to hide from the public his oral surgery for a possible tumor by having the operation on a yacht in the Atlantic makes for involving reading. Algeo shows how the secret operation took place with the backdrop of a nation in the midst of a bitter fight on the gold vs. silver standard, a fight that Cleveland was leading with Congress during his personal ordeal. “Sick Man” is a fine companion for readers who were mesmerized by the story of medical incompetence in the treatment of President James Garfield following his shooting in “The Destiny of the Republic.” Both books raise important questions on what limits, if any, the press and the public should have regarding the President’s health record. Highly recommended.
July 9, 2017
Very interesting book. I knew that Cleveland had had oral surgery but didn't know the circumstances behind it. The book clearly describes the two terms of Cleveland's Presidency and how the result of the surgery changed Cleveland. It was alarming at the time, as it would be now, that the President disappeared for five days without any explanation. Then they lied as to what the President was doing, which was contrary to everything Cleveland stood for. He was known as the "Honest President" yet lied about where he was and what had happened during the time he was gone. The truth didn't come out for many years. The book addressed a big issue at the time, and still is a big issue, of what would happen if the President was diagnosed with cancer. At that time, cancer was an automatic death knell and would have caused much doubt about Cleveland's ability to run the nation. It brings up the question of what America would do if this type of thing occurred in present time.
November 8, 2011
Excellent, readable history about the ground-breaking, secret surgery endured by Gover Cleveland during his presidency. The surgery removed a malignant tumor in his mouth and was so successful that he went on to live over a decade following the operation. The book is very interesting for the medical history as well as the background of the "Great Panic of 1893" The economy was in a tailspin, unemployment was high, stocks were plumeting...sound familiar? The contentious question of the day was whether the value of the dollar should be based on silver or gold. A very engaging read if you are interested in history and/or medicine.
September 2, 2014
If you liked Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure, (which I did) don't bother with this one. It is written as if the story was written once then run through a shredder and put back together incorrectly. It is crammed with irrelevant comments and "facts" that have nothing to do with the title, but more about packing the book with extra words to make it appear to be a more thorough expose.
The president and his advisers had a terrible opinion of the people who put him in office, and treated them like serfs.
The president and his advisers had a terrible opinion of the people who put him in office, and treated them like serfs.
June 12, 2011
There's no more enjoyable reading than nonfiction written with the narrative flow, the drama (and the comedy) of a good novel. This book was all the more enjoyable because it details an historic event that I've known about since I was a child: My maternal grandfather, whose mentor at Jefferson was Dr. William Keen, was a beneficiary of the successful surgery.
May 9, 2018
Fun read on a chapter of presidential history that was hidden from public for 80 years
August 7, 2018
Rounded up from 3.5. Dragged at times, but this is a period of history I didn't know much about and found the story fascinating.
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