Page "Grover Cleveland" Paragraph 12

In the 1870s, the government of Buffalo had grown increasingly corrupt, with Democratic and Republican political machines cooperating to share the spoils.

When, in 1881, the Republicans nominated a slate of particularly disreputable machine politicians, the Democrats saw the opportunity to gain the votes of disaffected Republicans by nominating a more honest candidate.

The party leaders approached Cleveland, and he agreed to run for Mayor of Buffalo, provided that the rest of the ticket was to his liking.

When the more notorious politicians were left off the Democratic ticket, Cleveland accepted the nomination.

Cleveland was elected mayor with 15, 120 votes, as against 11, 528 for Milton C. Beebe, his opponent.

He took office January 2, 1882.