White House Scandal

It all took place in 1886 but began years earlier.

Grover Cleveland was a confirmed bachelor, at 48 years old, when he became the 22nd President of the United States in 1885 and his sister served as his First Lady but only for a short time because behind the scenes a love story was unfolding.

He first met Frances Folsom at her birth.

She was the daughter of his law partner, and upon Mr. Folsom's death, Cleveland was named guardian to young Frances. He was deeply involved with her upbringing and as she reached her teens, they fell in love. This was all kept secret until after he won the election and was established in Washington.

When the media caught wind of a presidential romance it pinpointed it to Folsom but assumed it was the widow of Cleveland's good friend not the beautiful, young daughter but once confirmed it was Frances, the media went wild with speculations and she became their media darling. They speculated that the wedding would be held in New York, their home state, and that remained front-page news in the papers until the wedding day which took place in the White House.

This remains the only marriage that actually occurred in the white house and took place in the Blue room State parlor on June 2, 1886.

He was 49 years old and she was 21 years old...the youngest First Lady in history.

Their marriage produced five children....their fist born was a girl named Ruth and there is much controversy that the Baby Ruth candy bar was named after her. Despite their age difference and their marriage in a fishbowl, they remained a loving couple until Cleveland's death in 1908.

Few of us have seen it, but Grover Cleveland's picture graces the $1000.00 bill