The Forgotten Conservative

Rediscovering Grover Cleveland

By: John Pafford

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Grover Cleveland is truly the forgotten conservative: a man of dignity, integrity, and courage often overlooked by the history books. Historian and author John Pafford reveals a president who deserves more attention. Cleveland might not have presided over deeply troubled times, but he set a standard for principled leadership in office that is especially relevant today.

©2013 John M. Pafford (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A book much like Cleveland himself

This short biography is much like Cleveland himself: conservative, earnest, and solid, but by no means spectacular.

Good book, stop with the polemics

What did you like best about The Forgotten Conservative? What did you like least?

I am not a Cleveland scholar, but the book appears to be well-researched and does a good job of avoiding extrapolating from the known facts (for example about whether or not Cleveland fathered a child out of wedlock). I appreciate the well-crafted sentences and paragraphs which flow well.

I do not appreciate the intrusion of the authors' politics. This book will certainly play well on Fox News. Right or left, I prefer that biographers write a book about the person, rather than craft a biography upon which to hang their own political ideas. I do not care about the author's political views and found their frequent intrusion into the story annoying.

Would you recommend The Forgotten Conservative to your friends? Why or why not?

I would not recommend the book unless I find that other authors deal with the Cleveland life and administration poorly.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His narration is clear and his diction excellent.

What else would you have wanted to know about John Pafford’s life?

Nothing.

Great Biography

Great biography about a mostly forgotten president and fascinating man with an excellent synopsis of the big issues of the late 19th century.

A very Honest and strong Individual

Indeed he was Honest person and kept himself of above all reproach and never appoint friend or family to any appointment to federal or public office. He was a true conservative that wouldn't be allowed to be corrupted. He was very strong will.

I know far too much about the author's politics

Over the last year, I've read 25 biographies, and this was the worst. The primary issue is that no attempt at objectivity was made. The author has made his opinions and politics abundantly clear, and leaves out any explanation of value statements on the apparent assumption the reader already agrees with his statements of any decision being good or bad. The narrative went between awkwardly conversational and sounding, as another reviewer stated, like a Wikipedia article. I will definitely be advising others to find a different biography of President Cleveland.