Frances Cleveland
Frances Cleveland, renowned as the first lady who wed in the White House, achieved historical notoriety marrying Grover Cleveland at the age of 21, with him being 49. Having been under Cleveland’s care since her father’s death at 11, Frances captivated the public with her charm and youth, bolstering her husband’s political standing. Despite her significant impact on his image, her potential contributions to history were hindered by Grover Cleveland’s traditional views on a wife’s role, as highlighted in a C-SPAN documentary. This perspective likely influenced her notably low score of 3.05 for accomplishments in the Siena College study, perpetuating historical underestimation of Frances Cleveland’s potential influence beyond her pioneering role as a youthful and charismatic first lady.
Image Credit: George Prince (1848–1929), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons