Has a president ever won two non-consecutive White House elections?

Should Donald Trump triumph backmost nan White House connected Nov. 5, he wouldn’t beryllium nan first erstwhile president to beryllium elevated to a non-consecutive 2nd term.

That grant belongs to New Jersey’s ain Grover Cleveland, nan United States’ 22nd and 24th president.

Cleveland’s first statesmanlike tally and nan Maria Halpin scandal

Trump and Cleveland stock immoderate commonalities isolated from moving for nan White House successful 3 consecutive cycles.

Both men person been plagued by allegations of intersexual misconduct, up to and including rape.

During nan 1884 statesmanlike campaign, Cleveland — past nan Democratic politician of New York — was accused by a Buffalo garment manufacture supervisor named Maria Halpin of fathering her child a decade anterior — and utilizing his governmental power to person Halpin placed successful a psychiatric ward while nan kid was adopted by different family.

“In an 1874 affidavit,” nan Chicago Tribune wrote astatine nan time, according to Smithsonian Magazine, “Halpin powerfully implied that Cleveland’s introduction into her room and nan incident that transpired location was not consensual—he was forceful and violent, she alleged, and later promised to ruin her if she went to nan authorities.”

Cleveland’s run acknowledged that he and Halpin had been “illicitly acquainted,” but nan politician near nan paternity of Halpin’s kid — fixed nan sanction Oscar Folsom Cleveland — an unfastened question, arguing that immoderate of nan salient Buffalo businessmen successful his circle (all of whom were married) could person sired nan boy.

Halpin argued: “There is not and ne'er was a uncertainty arsenic to nan paternity of our child, and nan effort of Grover Cleveland aliases his friends to mates nan sanction of Oscar Folsom aliases immoderate 1 other pinch that of nan boy, for that purpose, is simply infamous and false.”

However, Cleveland’s downplaying of nan brushwood arsenic an unfortunate youthful liaison — contempt him being successful his mid-30s astatine nan clip — won nan day, and he defeated Republican Sen. James Blaine of Maine successful nan November election, becoming nan first Democrat to triumph nan White House since nan Civil War.

Cleveland’s first word and defeat

Cleveland was tightfisted connected matters of economical policy, opposing authorities handouts and typical favors — moreover vetoing a measure that would person fixed drought-stricken Texas farmers $10,000 successful national costs (around $325,000 successful today’s money) to acquisition seed grain.

But it was his veto of expanding pensions for Civil War veterans and his distaste for workers’ authorities that astir contributed to his grounded bid for re-election.

Cleveland mislaid nan 1888 statesmanlike title to Republican erstwhile Sen. Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, becoming nan only incumbent to day to triumph nan celebrated ballot and suffer nan Electoral College.

Grover Cleveland’s re-election and 2nd term

Cleveland sewage his revenge 4 years later, defeating Harrison successful nan first matchup of awesome statement nominees who had served arsenic president.

The 24th president’s word was beset by nan economical Panic of 1893 and related labour unrest. Though Cleveland could person sought a 3rd word successful 1896, he opted not to title nan Democratic nomination.

Following nan predetermination that twelvemonth of Republican William McKinley of Ohio, nary Democrat won nan presidency until Woodrow Wilson’s triumph successful 1912.

Presidents who person attempted to triumph a non-consecutive word but failed

Should Trump suffer his comeback campaign, he would person much company. Former Presidents Martin Van Buren (1848), Millard Fillmore (1856), Ulysses S. Grant (1880) and Teddy Roosevelt (1912) each mislaid their attempts astatine returning to nan presidency aft a spread of astatine slightest 4 years.

While Grant and Roosevelt were attempting to triumph 3rd position successful nan Oval Office, Trump will person nary specified luck should he look triumphant connected Tuesday.

The 22nd Amendment to nan Constitution, ratified successful 1951, holds that nary 1 tin beryllium elected president much than twice.