"Live according to your own conscience.”
-Rutherford B. Hayes
Born: October 4, 1822 in Delaware, Ohio.
Died: January 17, 1893 in Fremont, Ohio.
President of the United States: March 4, 1877 to March 4, 1881.
Rutherford B. Hayes might not be the first name you think of when talking about memorable presidents. He gets lost somewhere between the Civil War heroes and the more modern names that follow. However, the chapter on Hayes in Confronting the Presidents reminds us that he landed right in the middle of one of the most heated political battles in our nation’s history. Note: More current history will be put in that category as well.
Hayes became president after the chaotic and highly disputed election of 1876. Think about Florida in 2000 and the 2021 between Biden & Trump. There were recounts, accusations of fraud, and competing electoral votes. The only way to resolve it was through the Compromise of 1877, which handed Hayes the presidency while effectively ending Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South. It was a decision that smoothed the political crisis, but at a significant cost. The progress once promised to formerly enslaved Americans quickly crumbled without federal protection.
Yet, Hayes was far from an uncaring figure. A Civil War veteran wounded five times, he genuinely believed in fairness and wanted to lead with integrity. He pushed hard for civil service reform, pushing back on the system that rewarded political friends instead of qualified workers. He also resisted pressure from his own party when he felt the public good demanded something different. That is not an easy road for any leader, especially one already viewed as having a questionable claim to the Oval Office.
Hayes had a strong desire to heal a divided nation. His intentions were solid but his results were questionable. In trying to unite North and South, he underestimated the danger of stepping back on civil rights enforcement. 
The book indicates a strong, affectionate partnership between Hayes and his wife, Lucy. Lucy Hayes was known as “Lemonade Lucy” for her stance on temperance. She worked diligently for abolition and temperance. Lucy was the first First Lady to graduate from college. The Hayes' had eight children, seven boys and one girl. Three of the boys died very young.
So, while Hayes may not have the star power of some of the presidents from earlier (and later), his time in office reveals a leader trying to move a wounded nation forward. He just couldn't quite figure out how to do it.
Fun Fact:
Hayes was the first U.S. president to have a telephone in the White House. The number? “1.” Apparently, being President has its perks.
Comments(16)