But Cleveland was no genius; he was not even a man of marked talent.

He was stanch, plodding, laborious, and dutiful; but he was lacking in ability to penetrate to the heart of obscure political problems and to deal with primary causes rather than with effects.

The great successes of his administration were gained in particular problems whose significance had already been clearly defined.

In this field, Cleveland's resolute and energetic performance of duty had splendid results.
At the time of Cleveland's inauguration as President, the Senate claimed an extent of authority which, if allowed to go unchallenged, would have turned the Presidency into an office much like that of the doge of Venice, one of ceremonial dignity without real power.

"The Federalist"-- that matchless collection of constitutional essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay--laid down the doctrine that "against the enterprising ambition" of the legislative department "the people ought to indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions." But some of the precautions taken in framing the Constitution proved ineffectual from the start.