In the Election of 1888, incumbent President Grover Cleveland faced off against Civil War hero turned politician Benjamin Harrison. It was a contest defined by tariffs, scandals, and one of the narrowest splits between the popular and electoral vote in U.S. history.
Cleveland’s First Term
After narrowly winning the Election of 1884, Cleveland became the first Democrat elected president since James Buchanan in 1856, breaking nearly three decades of Republican dominance. His presidency was notable for vetoing a record number of bills, reducing government spending, opposing wasteful subsidies, and strengthening the merit-based civil service system, turning away from the entrenched spoils system.
Cleveland also pursued a non-interventionist foreign policy and supported free trade, which became a central issue of his re-election campaign. On a personal note, he married Frances Folsom in 1886, making her the youngest First Lady in American history.
When the time came for renomination, Cleveland was chosen unanimously, becoming the first Democratic president since Martin Van Buren to receive his party’s backing for a second term. His new running mate was Allen G. Thurman of Ohio, replacing Thomas Hendricks, who had died only eight months into his vice presidency.
Harrison for President
The Republicans entered the race searching for a candidate who could unify their divided factions. James G. Blaine, Cleveland’s 1884 opponent, declined another run despite being the favorite. In his place, the party rallied behind Benjamin Harrison, a senator from Indiana, Civil War general, and grandson of President William Henry Harrison, who had died just 31 days into office in 1841.
Harrison’s candidacy brought both military prestige and a powerful family legacy, while his residency in Indiana—a critical swing state—helped secure his nomination. His running mate was Levi Morton, a former Congressman and diplomat from New York.
The Tariff Debate
The central issue of the Election of 1888 was tariffs.
- Cleveland and the Democrats supported free trade and lower tariffs, arguing that “unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.” He also vetoed numerous pension bills for Union veterans, viewing them as fiscally irresponsible. While this appealed to limited-government Democrats, it alienated the politically powerful Grand Army of the Republic, a key voting bloc of Union veterans.
- Harrison and the Republicans supported high tariffs, appealing to manufacturers and industrial workers fearful of foreign competition. Harrison also strongly endorsed veterans’ pensions, bolstering his support among ex-soldiers and their families.
Unlike Cleveland, who refused to campaign actively, Harrison embraced a front-porch campaign from his Indiana home, delivering speeches to visiting delegations, a tactic that echoed James Garfield’s successful strategy in 1880.
Scandals: The Murchison Letter & the “Blocks of Five”
The campaign was marred by scandal.
- The Murchison Letter: A forged letter from a Republican operative under the alias “Charles Murchison” asked the British ambassador, Lionel Sackville-West, who Britain favored in the election. The ambassador’s reply suggested support for Cleveland due to his free trade stance. Republicans publicized this, inflaming Irish-American voters in New York, many of whom distrusted Britain.
- The “Blocks of Five”: Republican National Committee Treasurer William Wade Dudley wrote to Indiana party operatives urging them to organize voters into “blocks of five” for targeted bribery. Democrats exposed the letter, sparking outrage, but the damage had already been done in the tight race.
These scandals highlighted the growing role of big money and political corruption in U.S. elections, accelerating calls for secret ballots to curb voter manipulation.
Results of the Election of 1888
To win, a candidate needed 201 electoral votes.
- Benjamin Harrison won with 233 electoral votes, despite receiving fewer popular votes.
- Grover Cleveland won the popular vote with 48.6% to Harrison’s 47.8% but only secured 168 electoral votes.
The decisive state was New York, Cleveland’s home state, which swung narrowly to Harrison. Combined with Indiana, Harrison’s victory was secured. Meanwhile, third parties played little role in this cycle compared to previous elections.
This was the third time since 1824 that the candidate who won the popular vote did not win the presidency, a controversy that foreshadowed future disputes.
Legacy
The Election of 1888 followed Cleveland’s narrow victory in 1884, where he became the first Democrat to reclaim the presidency since before the Civil War. But his free-trade stance, vetoes of veterans’ pensions, and the impact of scandals like the Murchison Letter ultimately cost him re-election.
Benjamin Harrison entered the White House as the 23rd president, empowered by Republican industrial backing and veterans’ support. Yet Cleveland’s wife, Frances, reportedly told White House staff to “take care of the furniture, for we’ll be back.”
She was right—Cleveland would return in the Election of 1892, making him the only U.S. president to serve two nonconsecutive terms.