Grover Cleveland sworn in as 24th President of the United States

Background. Grover Cleveland won the 1892 election against Benjamin Harrison, securing both the popular vote and the electoral college. This victory returned him to the White House for a second term. The election was described as clean and quiet, contrasting with previous turbulent contests. Cleveland's return marked a unique historical precedent as he was the first former president to be re-inaugurated.

Inauguration Details. The inauguration took place on Saturday, March 4, 1893, at the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the 27th inauguration in U.S. history. It marked the start of Cleveland's second and final four-year term and the only term of Adlai Stevenson I as vice president.

Immediate Context. Shortly before the inauguration, the Panic of 1893 struck the stock market, signaling an economic depression. Cleveland had campaigned against the Lodge Bill in 1892. The new administration faced immediate challenges, including the economic downturn and the aftermath of the election, which had favored tariff reform and skepticism of big business.