601. Scandal in the White House

September 17, 2025

Description

Who was Grover Cleveland, and why is he one of the most controversial American Presidents of all time? Why was the run up to his first term, in 1884 at the height of the Gilded Age, so pivotal to...
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Books Referenced

The Woman in White

Author: Wilkie Collins

Context:

Referenced multiple times as a comparison to the Maria Halpin scandal, noting parallels with the plot involving a woman locked in a lunatic asylum and a grotesquely fat villain (Count Fosco), similar to the allegations against Cleveland.

The Moonstone

Author: Wilkie Collins

Context:

Mentioned alongside The Woman in White as an example of Victorian sensation fiction that the Maria Halpin scandal resembles.

A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland

Author: Charles Lachman

Context:

Dominic recommends this book for listeners who want to check out the details of the Maria Halpin story, noting 'You can tell which side he's on' and that it goes into the scandal in great detail.

A Man of Iron

Author: Troy Senik

Context:

Described as the most recent biography of Cleveland, published in 2022, which argues that Cleveland was framed by partisan Republicans and that the scandal allegations were unreliable. The hosts note Senik is a fan of their podcast.