Grover Cleveland actually said...

"The ability to read and write, as required in this bill, in and of itself affords, in my opinion, a misleading test of contented industry and supplies unsatisfactory evidence of desirable citizenship ..."

"The time is quite within recent memory when the same thing was said of immigrants who, with their descendants, are now numbered among our best citizens."

"A careful examination of this bill has convinced me that for the reasons given and others not specifically stated its provisions are unnecessarily harsh and oppressive."

"I have not thought it compatible with the public interest that the correspondence referred to in the resolution should be communicated pending the public and exhaustive investigation about to be insti..."