Grover Cleveland actually said...

"I neither believe it to be a duty nor a kindness to the worthy citizens for whose benefit our scheme of pensions was provided to permit the diversion of the nation's bounty to objects not within its s..."

"If any money is to be given this man from the public Treasury, it should not be done under the guise of a pension."

"To the Senate of the United States: A bill which originated in the Senate, entitled 'An act granting a pension to Edward Ayers,' and numbered 363, is herewith returned without approval."

"I am convinced that the rejection of this claim by the Pension Bureau was correct, and think its action should not be reversed."