Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford Birchard Hayes (October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was the 19th President of the United States (1877 – 1881).

Presidency

Hayes became president after the tumultuous, scandal-ridden years of the Grant administration. He had a reputation for honesty dating back to his Civil War years, when as a major general he had refused to campaign for Congress, saying that any officer who left his command to run for office "ought to be scalped." As Governor of Ohio, his scrupulousness sometimes dismayed even his political allies, and Hayes was nicknamed "Old Granny." Nevertheless, his opponent in the presidential election, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, was the favorite to win the presidential election and, in fact, won the popular vote by about 250,000 votes (with about 8.5 million voters in total).

Related Topics:
Civil War - Congress - Governor - Ohio - Democrat - Samuel J. Tilden

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Election of 1876

Four states' electoral college votes were contested. In order to win, the candidates had to muster 185 votes: Tilden was short just one, with 184 votes, Hayes had 165, with 20 votes representing four states which were contested. To make matters worse, three of these states (Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina) were in the South, which was still under military occupation, the fourth being Oregon.

Related Topics:
Electoral college - Florida - Louisiana - South Carolina - Oregon

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After months of deliberation and bargaining, Southern Democrats were assured that if Hayes were elected, he would pull federal troops out of the South and end Reconstruction. An agreement was made between them and the Republicans -- if Hayes' cabinet consisted of at least one Southerner and he withdrew all Union troups from the South, then he would become president. This is sometimes considered to be a second Corrupt Bargain.

Related Topics:
Reconstruction - Corrupt Bargain

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South America

In 1878 Hayes was asked by the Argentines to act as arbitrator following the War of the Triple Alliance between Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay against Paraguay. The Argentines hoped that Hayes would give the Chaco region to them, however he decided in favour of the Paraguayans. His descision made him a hero in Paraguay, and a city (Villa Hayes) and a region (Presidente Hayes) was named in his honour.

Related Topics:
1878 - War of the Triple Alliance - Argentina - Brazil - Uruguay - Paraguay - Chaco - Villa Hayes - Presidente Hayes

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Notable legislation

During his presidency, Hayes signed a number of bills including one signed on February 15, 1879 which, for the first time, allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Related Topics:
February 15 - 1879 - Attorney - Supreme Court of the United States

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Cabinet

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Supreme Court appointments

Hayes appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:

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• John Marshall Harlan - 1877
• William Burnham Woods - 1881

Significant events during his presidency

• Compromise of 1877 (1877)
• Desert Land Act (1877)
• Munn v. Illinois (1877)
• Great Railroad Strike (1877)
• Bland-Allison Act (1878)
• Timber and Stone Act (1878)