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Summary
- Early Life and Family
- Role in the American Civil War
- Political Career Before Presidency
- Presidency (1877–1881)
- Later Life and Death
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about Rutherford Hayes!
Rutherford B. Hayes served as the 19th president of the United States from 1877 until 1881. He became president after a very close and disputed election, and his main goal was to calm political tensions and lead an honest government. During his presidency, he ended Reconstruction in the South, appointed reform-minded cabinet members and judges, and kept the White House alcohol-free. He also focused on civil service reform, workers’ rights, and education.
After leaving office in 1881, Hayes returned to his home, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio. Even in retirement, he stayed active in public life, supporting education, social reforms, and veterans’ causes. He remained engaged in national issues until his death in 1893.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Early Life and Family of Rutherford Hayes
- Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in the town of Delaware, Ohio, on 4 October 1822, to Rutherford Ezekiel Hayes, Jr. and Sophia Birchard. His father passed away just before Hayes was born. Out of four children, only Hayes and his sister Fanny lived to adulthood. His mother never remarried, and her younger brother, Sardis Birchard, lived with them for a while. Sardis became close to Hayes and helped take care of him and his education.
- Hayes came from families that had lived in New England for generations. His earliest ancestor came to Connecticut from Scotland. His great-grandfather, Ezekiel Hayes, had been a militia captain in Connecticut during the American Revolutionary War. Hayes’ grandfather later moved the family to Vermont for more safety during the war.
- On his mother’s side, ancestors had also settled in Vermont. He had several well-known relatives: his uncle John Noyes served in Congress, his cousin Mary Jane Mead was the mother of sculptor Larkin Goldsmith Mead and architect William Rutherford Mead, and another cousin, John Humphrey Noyes, founded the Oneida Community.
- Hayes first went to local schools in Delaware, Ohio, and then in 1836, he enrolled at the Norwalk Seminary in Norwalk, Ohio. He later moved to the Webb School in Middletown, Connecticut, where he learned Latin and Ancient Greek. In 1838, he went to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He did well in his studies, joined student societies, and became interested in Whig politics. He graduated in 1842 with the highest honours and spoke as valedictorian at his class commencement.
- After studying law briefly in Columbus, Hayes went to Harvard Law School in 1843. He graduated and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1845, opening a law office in Lower Sandusky (now Fremont). At first, business was slow, but he gradually gained clients and represented his uncle Sardis in legal matters. In 1847, Hayes became ill and travelled to New England and Texas to improve his health. By 1850, he moved to Cincinnati, where he found more work, formed law partnerships, joined social clubs, and attended the Episcopal Church, though he did not formally join.
- While in Cincinnati, Hayes met Lucy Webb, who became his wife. They married on 30 December 1852 and had three sons: Birchard Austin in 1853, Webb Cook in 1856, and Rutherford Platt in 1858. Lucy was a, Methodist, teetotaler, and abolitionist, and she influenced Hayes’ views on social issues, although he did not formally join her church. He became known as a skilled criminal defence lawyer, taking on difficult cases including accused murderers and escaped enslaved people under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
Role in the American Civil War
- At first, Rutherford Hayes was unsure about going to war after Southern states began to leave the Union in 1860. He even suggested that the Union might “let them go.” In Ohio, where he lived, many people supported the South, and in 1861, he lost his job as city solicitor. After the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter in April 1861, Hayes decided to join the Union Army. He became major of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with his friend Stanley Matthews as lieutenant colonel.
- In July 1861, Hayes and his regiment went to western Virginia. Their first battle was at Carnifex Ferry, where they pushed back Confederate forces. Hayes was promoted to lieutenant colonel in November and led his troops through the region. In September 1862, during the Battle of South Mountain, Hayes was hit in his left arm but kept leading his men until they brought him to safety. He was then sent to the hospital and missed the remainder of the campaign. Later in October, he was promoted to colonel and later given command of a brigade as a brevet brigadier general.
- In 1863, Hayes’ division fought Confederate cavalry at the Battle of Buffington Island. In 1864, his troops joined General George Crook’s Army of West Virginia and advanced into southwestern Virginia, destroying Confederate supplies. Hayes’ brigade fought at Cloyd’s Mountain, charging the enemy and winning the battle.
- Later, Hayes’ troops joined the Valley Campaigns of 1864. They took control of Lexington, Virginia, and advanced toward Lynchburg, but had to pull back. Confederate General Jubal Early’s attack forced them to move north, where they fought at Kernstown, Berryville, Opequon Creek, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek.
- At Cedar Creek, Hayes twisted his ankle and was hit in the head by a spent bullet, but he remained on the battlefield. His courage impressed General Ulysses S. Grant, who praised Hayes’ leadership.
- In October 1864, Hayes was promoted to brigadier general and given a brevet rank of major general. Around that time, his fourth son, George Crook Hayes, was born. The army spent the winter in camps, and in spring 1865, the war ended when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Hayes then went to Washington, D.C., to watch the Grand Review of the Armies before returning to Ohio with his regiment.
Political Career Before Presidency
- After the Civil War, Hayes began his national political career. While still serving in the army in 1864, he was nominated by the Republicans to run for the US House of Representatives from Ohio. He did not leave the army to campaign, but instead wrote letters to voters explaining his views. He won the election by 2,400 votes against Alexander Long.
- In Congress, Hayes joined a Republican majority. He supported the Fourteenth Amendment, which gave civil rights to freed enslaved people, and also backed the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
- He voted for the first impeachment inquiry against President Andrew Johnson and for the Tenure of Office Act, which limited the president’s power to remove officials. He also tried to pass a civil service reform law, though it failed. Hayes resigned from Congress in July 1867 to run for Governor of Ohio.
- Hayes won the 1867 election, defeating Democrat Allen G. Thurman. As governor, he worked with a Democratic-controlled legislature, which limited his power. Still, he helped open a school for deaf children and a reform school for girls. He supported equal rights for African Americans and urged Congress to convict President Johnson, though the vote failed by one.
- In 1869, Hayes was re-elected governor. This time, Republicans controlled the legislature. Ohio ratified the Fifteenth Amendment, giving Black men the right to vote. Hayes also helped improve education, including starting the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College (later Ohio State University), reduced state taxes, and reformed prisons. He did not run for a third term in 1872.
- Hayes then focused on family and business. He managed real estate, promoted railways in his hometown of Fremont, and helped set up the Birchard Library, funded by his late uncle Sardis Birchard. In 1875, the Republicans nominated him for governor again. He won and became the first person in Ohio to serve three terms as governor. During this term, he worked to reduce state debt, improve charities, and stop state money from funding Catholic schools.
Presidency (1877–1881) of Rutherford B. Hayes
Inauguration and Election of 1876
- Hayes became a serious candidate for president after his time as governor of Ohio. At the Republican convention in June 1876, James G. Blaine was the early favourite, but he could not win enough support. After several votes, the party chose Hayes as a compromise candidate. William A. Wheeler of New York was selected as his running mate.
Hayes's cabinet in 1877
- Rutherford Hayes ran against the Democratic candidate Samuel J. Tilden, who was governor of New York. Both men were seen as honest and supported reform of government jobs. The campaign was quiet. Hayes and Tilden stayed at home while their supporters spoke for them. The country was facing economic problems, which made the election difficult for the Republicans.
- The election took place in November 1876, and the result was very close. Tilden received the most popular votes and seemed to have 184 electoral votes, leaving him just one vote away from winning the election. Hayes had 166 electoral votes, but the results in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina were disputed. Both parties accused each other of cheating and of stopping Black voters from voting.
- Because the result could not be agreed on, Congress set up a special Electoral Commission. After weeks of debate, the commission gave all the disputed votes to Hayes. This meant Hayes won by 185 electoral votes to 184. To prevent more conflict, leaders from both parties made the Compromise of 1877. Republicans agreed to pull federal troops out of the South and let Democratic governments take power there. In return, Democrats agreed to allow Hayes to become president. This decision brought Reconstruction to an end.
- Hayes took the oath of office in private on 3 March 1877 because 4 March was a Sunday. His public inauguration was held on 5 March 1877 at the Capitol. In his speech, Hayes called for unity, honest government, and peaceful rule in the South. Even so, many Democrats believed the election was unfair and never fully accepted Hayes as president.
Administration
- Hayes was president from 4 March 1877 to 4 March 1881. His main goal was to calm political tensions after the disputed election of 1876 and to run an honest government. He chose a cabinet made mostly of moderate Republicans and avoided anyone who might later challenge him for president. His cabinet included:
- Vice President: William A. Wheeler (1877–1881)
- Secretary of State: William M. Evarts (1877–1881)
- Secretary of the Treasury: John Sherman (1877–1881)
- Secretary of War: George W. McCrary (1877–1879), Alexander Ramsey (1879–1881)
- Attorney General: Charles Devens (1877–1881)
- Postmaster General: David M. Key (1877–1880), Horace Maynard (1880–1881)
- Secretary of the Navy: Richard W. Thompson (1877–1880), Nathan Goff Jr. (1881)
- Secretary of the Interior: Carl Schurz (1877–1881)
- Some of his choices reflected political balance and attempts to reach out to the South. For example, David M. Key, a former Confederate soldier, was chosen as Postmaster General. Others, like William M. Evarts and Carl Schurz, were known for reform-minded policies. Some Republicans were unhappy with these appointments, but the Senate confirmed them with support from Southern senators.
- Hayes and his wife, Lucy, were also famous for keeping the White House free of alcohol. After seeing drunken behaviour at early receptions, Hayes decided not to serve alcohol at White House events. Lucy earned the nickname “Lemonade Lucy” because of this. Hayes used the money saved from not buying alcohol for better food and entertainment, which also won him support from temperance supporters and Protestant church leaders.
- During his presidency, Hayes made several important judicial appointments. He appointed two justices to the Supreme Court and tried to appoint a third. One of his appointees strongly supported civil rights, even when it was unpopular. He also appointed judges to lower federal courts.
- Politically, the country was very evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Congress was closely balanced, so Hayes often had to work through compromise. At the same time, the economy was improving after the depression of 1873. Industry grew, farms became more productive, and new businesses developed, especially in steel and oil. Hayes’s presidency took place during this time of growing prosperity, which later became known as the Gilded Age.
Key Actions and Policies
- Ending Reconstruction: When Hayes became president in 1877, only South Carolina and Louisiana still had Republican governments backed by federal troops. As part of the Compromise of 1877, Hayes withdrew the troops from these states, ending Reconstruction. He hoped Southern leaders would respect African Americans’ rights, but Democrats quickly took control.
- Civil Rights and Voting: Hayes tried to protect African American rights in the South, but Democrats regained control and limited Black voting. Despite his efforts to balance civil rights with Southern politics, most of his reforms failed in the long run.
- Women’s Rights: Hayes supported legal rights for women. In 1879, he signed the Lockwood Bill, allowing qualified women to argue cases before the Supreme Court.
- Civil Service Reform: Hayes wanted to reduce corruption in government jobs. He believed jobs should be given based on merit, not political loyalty. Some officials, like Chester A. Arthur at the New York Custom House, resisted his reforms, so Hayes replaced them with honest and qualified people. His work helped pave the way for the Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883.
- Handling Strikes: The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the biggest labour dispute in US history at that time. Hayes sent federal troops to protect property and keep order. The strike showed poor working conditions, and while the railroads won at first, they were pressured to improve the treatment of workers. Hayes was the first president to use the army in a domestic labour dispute, and this strike led to laws limiting military involvement in such conflicts.
- Native American Policy: Hayes and Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz worked to reform the Bureau of Indian Affairs. They promoted education, assimilation, and the division of indigenous lands into individual plots. Hayes handled conflicts with Indigenous nations like the Nez Perce, Bannock, and Ute through negotiation and military action. He also helped the Ponca nation regain some of their land in Nebraska.
- Economy and Finance: Hayes worked to stabilise the economy and return to the gold standard. He opposed overusing silver coins, vetoing the Bland-Allison Act, though Congress overrode him. He also signed the Arrears Act to expand Civil War pensions, which made many veterans happy and increased support for his party. Hayes managed government spending carefully to encourage economic growth.
- Foreign Affairs: Hayes focused on diplomacy. He opposed the French plan to build a canal in Panama and insisted it stay under American control. He dealt with problems along the Mexican border, negotiated limits on Chinese immigration, and resolved a territorial disagreement between Argentina and Paraguay. Hayes kept good relations with European countries while safeguarding American interests.
- Innovation and Travel: In 1880, Hayes was the first president in office to travel west of the Rocky Mountains, touring states such as California, Oregon, Washington, and several others along the way.
- Hayes honoured his pledge to serve just one term and chose not to seek re-election in 1880. He supported the Republican nomination of James A. Garfield, who eventually won the presidency in a very close race against Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock.
- Hayes worked with Garfield to ensure a smooth transition of power. By the end of his term on 4 March 1881, Hayes had restored political stability after the heated election of 1876, promoted civil service reform, maintained a strong economy, and left office with his reputation as an honest and moderate leader largely intact.
Later Life and Death
- After leaving the presidency in 1881, Hayes returned to his home, Spiegel Grove, in Fremont, Ohio. In retirement, he stayed active by helping schools, improving society, and supporting veterans. He also ran the Birchard Public Library, which he had started to honour his uncle.
- Hayes stayed connected to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, a group of Union Army veterans, serving as its leader from 1888 until his death. He kept supporting the Republican Party, helping politicians like William McKinley, but he also approved of Democrat Grover Cleveland’s work on civil service reform.
- Education was very important to Hayes in his later years. He served on the Board of Trustees of Ohio State University, encouraging both school and practical vocational training. He also supported scholarships for Black students, helping groups like the Slater Fund, which supported young leaders such as W. E. B. Du Bois. He spoke out about poor prison conditions and warned about the dangers of wealth being controlled by a few, suggesting changes to property and tax laws to reduce inequality.
- Hayes was deeply saddened when his wife, Lucy, died in 1889. After her death, he was often accompanied by his daughter Fanny and enjoyed visits from his grandchildren. In 1890, he led the Lake Mohonk Conference on the Negro Question, a meeting where reformers discussed racial issues.
- Hayes died from heart problems on 17 January 1893, at the age of 70. His last words were, “I know that I'm going where Lucy is.” His funeral was attended by President-elect Grover Cleveland and Ohio Governor William McKinley. He was first buried in Oakwood Cemetery, but in 1915, his remains were moved to Spiegel Grove to be laid to rest alongside his wife.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rutherford B. Hayes
- Who was Rutherford B. Hayes?
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president of the United States, serving from 1877 to 1881. - What was the Compromise of 1877?
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the disputed 1876 election and led to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. - How did Rutherford B. Hayes become president?
Hayes won the highly disputed 1876 election, which was decided by a congressional commission.