[72] Theodore Roosevelt, then a member of the Assembly, had reluctantly voted for the bill to which Cleveland objected, in a desire to punish the unscrupulous railroad barons.[73] After the veto, Roosevelt reversed himself, as did many legislators, and the veto was sustained.[73]
Cleveland's defiance of political corruption won him popular acclaim, and the enmity of the influential Tammany Hall organization in New York City.[74] Tammany, under its boss, John Kelly, had disapproved of Cleveland's nomination as governor, and their resistance intensified after Cleveland openly opposed and prevented the re-election of Thomas F. Grady, their point man in the State Senate.[75] Cleveland also steadfastly opposed nominees of the Tammanyites, as well as bills passed as a result of their deal-making.[76] The loss of Tammany's support was offset by the support of Theodore Roosevelt and other reform-minded Republicans who helped Cleveland to pass several laws reforming municipal governments.[77]

Election of 1884
Main articles: 1884 United States presidential election and Grover Cleveland 1884 presidential campaign
Nomination for president
Main article: 1884 Democratic National Convention
An anti-Blaine cartoon presents him as the "tattooed man", with many indelible scandals.
An anti-Cleveland cartoon highlights the Halpin scandal.
