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It’s the question on everyone’s lips… just who is Grover Cleveland and his American towns?

The 22nd and 24th President of the US who served in the late 19th century was for all that an unremarkable figure.

Unlikely to ever be considered for Mount Rushmore.

But, of course, the New Jersey lawyer achieved what Teddy Roosevelt could not.

And what George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln chose not to.

Though that option was obviously cruelly taken away from Honest Abe by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington DC.

By becoming until this week the only US President to serve two discontinuous Presidential terms.

Two comeback kings

This year’s blond: With ‘The Donald’ in NY

Political observers, and nosey sorts, have been thumbing through the pages of American history to search for similarities with Donald Trump.

But, in truth, other than their comeback status they look to have little in common.

Other than a colourful love life with Grover siring a child out of wedlock and the Oval Office and, Donald Trump, well…

So while Grover was the first Democrat President since the Civil War, Trump is a populist Republican.

Grover was undone by robber barons in his reelection bid while Baron’s dad was ‘robbed’ of victory by the liberal elite.

And Grover built his career around opposing tariffs, while Trump’s MAGA movement is built around protectionism.

So how did Grover get back in?

Well, his big foe of the time Benjamin Harrison, whose grandfather William had been President, crashed the economy and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, well…

A town called Cleveland

Hail to the Chief: With Isabel and Georgie

Grover Cleveland’s legacy, of course, has been more and more assured with every passing decade a beaten President has declined to run again.

And in the cities named after him in the US, agreed to be 13.

Yes, almost half of the 25 named for Founding Father George Washington.

The convention about named cities is believed to derive from presidential visits.

The 48th President of America: In Washington DC

Which is why you’ll find Jeffersons, Jacksons and Madisons scattered through the States.

And when a President would pass through a newish town they would rename it after them.

And wouldn’t that be good for the self-esteem, and something that ran through this VIP’s mind?

Our Cleveland

On an MLK 50 commemoration tour of Martin Luther King’s assassination, and passing through Civil Rights town Cleveland in Mississippi.

The Trump name, of course, shines bright in hotels the length and breadth of America.

Though as yet The Donald has yet to have his own city although he now has his own country.

Whether the newly re-elected Donald J Trump tops Cleveland’s achievement and serves a third term would require a change in the constitution.

Say it again, Donald

Following the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1951 which addressed Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four election victories.

Of course, it would be folly to restrict The Donald’s ambitions but all that is for our tomorrows.

For these todays we’ll allow the 22nd and 24th President his place in the sun and indulge the question on everyone’s lips…

Who is Grover Cleveland and his American towns?

And yes, Gettysburg… you know the address. Though probably most don’t know where it is.

The site of Abraham Lincoln’s finest hour in Pennsylvania in fact only lasted two minutes.

But it resounds 160 years on today, November 19, and will do so for 1,600 to come.

In the most deprecating manner the Union’s Commander-in-Chief opined on this day in 1863: ‘The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.’

And peers noted that the Union’s leader was worried that his tribute would be overshadowed by Edward Everett’s two-hour speech.

Let battle begin

The good news for us is that the National Park Service, as they do across America, ‘have come to dedicate a portion of that field’ for us to pay our respects.

Gettysburg, as General George E Meade and General Robert E. Lee knew only too well, was a pivotal crossroads (aren’t they all?)

On the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania which made the battle, between July 1-3, Lee’s last excursion into the North.

Now where Meade and Lee had maps and compasses, these days we have GPS.

And Gettysburg lies an hour and a half north of Washington DC, two hours and ten minutes west of Philadelphia and an hour and ten to Baltimore.

Now while you can, and should, visit the battlefield and it will take three to five hours.

A day in history

Today it is all about Lincoln’s address.

And we are encouraged to kick off our trip through history at the home of attorney David Wills.

Where Abe stayed and perfected his speech the night before.

An annual parade of Civil War living history groups is held with the Gettysburg Address anniversary.

While there will be a commemoration day illumination which will feature a luminary candle on each of the 3,512 Civil War soldiers’ graves.

Now if you can’t get to Gettysburg today the National Parks Service give us a virtual tour, complete with the full speech.

Gettysburg… you know the address. Now look up the postal address on your next trip to the east coast.

Calling culture vultures

Now the Cultural Experience will give you a full day at Gettysburg in their 14-day American Civil War: Eastern Theater Tour.

And throw in Manassas (we were there), Fredericksburg and Appomattox among the highlights.

You’ll get return flights from London and will stay in 3 and 4 star hotels. See site for prices and conditions.