Ruth Cleveland

Ruth Eva Cleveland was born on October 3, 1891, in New York City. She was the eldest of five children born to Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, and First Lady Frances Cleveland. Her birth occurred between Cleveland’s two presidential terms, which generated significant public interest. Following her father's departure from the White House after his second term, the family relocated to Westland Mansion in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ruth Cleveland attended Miss Fine's School in Princeton. The family resided at Gray Gables, the Clevelands’ summer home on Cape Cod. Ruth’s mother took on many caregiving responsibilities, fulfilling roles often associated with nurses, while the family maintained discretion regarding photographs of her to preserve privacy. Ruth’s presence as a presidential child was a point of interest, and she was notably recognized at a Boston flower show where more than 40 varieties of chrysanthemums were named in her honor.

In the 1892 United States presidential election, Ruth Cleveland was involved in campaign activities. She appeared alongside Benjamin Harrison McKee, grandson of President Benjamin Harrison, in a campaign context. A campaign placard urged voters to "Vote for Papa," and a song about Ruth and McKee included lyrics describing Ruth as a "sickly child."

Ruth Cleveland contracted diphtheria on January 2, 1904. Despite initial assessments that her case was mild, she died five days later due to heart failure. She was 12 years old at the time of her death and was buried in Princeton Cemetery. Following her death, her mother refrained from attending her funeral based on medical advice, while Woodrow Wilson, then president of Princeton University, attended. The Cleveland family did not return to Gray Gables after Ruth's death.

The Curtiss Candy Company claimed that their Baby Ruth candy bar was named after Ruth Cleveland. This attribution was made following a lawsuit by Babe Ruth, the famous baseball player, who alleged that the company used his name without authorization. However, since Ruth Cleveland had died 17 years prior and was associated with her father’s presidency ending in 1897, this explanation is considered unlikely by many historians. The candy bar, previously called "Kandy Kake" from 1900 to 1920, was renamed Baby Ruth in 1921. This was a period when Babe Ruth's popularity was rising, especially after he broke the single-season home run record.

The company, Curtiss, never officially confirmed that the candy was named after Babe Ruth; instead, they insisted the name honored Ruth Cleveland. Babe Ruth later sued the Curtiss Candy Company for using his name but lost the case in 1931. The confectionery's marketing history and the timing of its renaming have led to ongoing speculation about the true inspiration behind its name.