The 19th president of the United States is often overshadowed by the giants who directly preceded him during a tumultuous time in US history, including Lincoln and Grant. However, staunch in his beliefs, Hayes brought a drastic overhaul to the federal government. A precursor of the progressives to come, Hayes invited controversy from the time he was elected, yet still demonstrated a skill for effective politics. What was his impact on the future of America?
The Young Life of Rutherford B. Hayes in Ohio
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio, in October 1822. He was born to a single mother, as his father had died just months before his birth. His mother, Sophia, raised him and his sister Arabella (known as Fanny) with assistance from her brother, Sardis. Rutherford was named for his father, and his middle name was his mother’s maiden name.
Hayes was educated at a local Methodist school and also spent time at a prep school in Connecticut. In November 1838, he enrolled in Kenyon College. Four years later he graduated valedictorian of his class and immediately began studying law with the brother of the college’s president. After a year of work-study, he enrolled at Harvard Law School, matriculating in 1845. He started a local law practice but moved to Cincinnati for better opportunities. He found them and soon became a successful lawyer. Hayes involved himself in politics and was intrigued with the new Republican Party, largely because of their anti-slavery ideals.
In 1852, Hayes married Lucy Ware Webb, who was also an Ohio native. Lucy was educated and a graduate of Wesleyan Women’s College. She had strong anti-slavery views and practiced and promoted abstinence from alcohol. The pair had eight children together. Hayes shared his Methodist wife’s abolitionist views and defended a number of escaped slaves in court.
War & Politics
When the Civil War broke out, Hayes was approaching 40. Despite his age, he argued that he would rather die in the war than do nothing for his country. He enlisted as a three-year volunteer, accepting a commission as a major in the 23rd Ohio Infantry. Despite his comfortable life as a lawyer, Hayes adapted well to military life and was noted for his bravery. By the end of the war, he’d earned the rank of brevet Brigadier General. He received four wounds during the course of his military service but persisted.
While he was still serving in the military, the Republican party of the Cincinnati area recruited Hayes to run on their political ticket. He was officially a candidate for the House of Representatives. However, Hayes refused to campaign, saying “an officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer, ought to be scalped.” Nevertheless, he was elected by a strong majority, and in December 1865, he entered Congress. He returned to the House the following year and then went on to serve three terms as Ohio’s governor.
A Fierce Election
After his success in other governmental roles, the Republicans chose Hayes to act as their presidential candidate. The 1876 election was one of the most tumultuous in history, pitting Hayes against the Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden won the popular vote, but electoral votes were undetermined. The results of the electorate in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana were disputed, with both Democrats and Republicans claiming victory. The election results were a point of contention for months. Finally, the presidential election was decided with the Compromise of 1877.
In the compromise, Hayes was named president, contingent on his removing Reconstruction-era troops from the South and allowing a Democratic majority in the three states in question. Therefore, Hayes’ first act as president was the conclusion of Reconstruction. In March 1877, Hayes took the oath of office and, as a sign of his dedication to his political morals, swore to serve only a single term as president.
An End to Excess
As Hayes ascended to office, the federal government was distrusted by many Americans. Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency had resulted in several accusations of government corruption. Hayes endeavored to restore transparency and morality to the government. He promoted meritocracy, the idea that jobs in civil service should be based on merit, not connections, and issued an executive order that prohibited government workers from engaging in party politics.
Hayes received extensive pushback from Congress regarding these efforts, which left him unable to make significant progress in his civil service reforms. Still, his attempts set a precedent for future changes. Congressional opposition also came into play regarding Black rights. The abolitionist president was no match for the Democrats in power in the South, and Jim Crow laws moved quickly throughout. Nevertheless, Hayes continued to fight for equality. He also vetoed Congress’ Chinese Exclusion Act which sought to limit immigration.
His view toward the American Indian was one of white superiority, aiming for a paternalistic assimilation policy. He admitted that most of the US “Indian wars” were rooted in “broken promises and acts of injustice on our part,” but continued the process of removal to reservations. The Nez Perce War occurred under his presidency, and he seemed uninterested in any efforts to retain traditional cultures.
Hayes came into the presidency amid a struggling economy. The Panic of 1873 had led to an ongoing depression, and Hayes aimed to help the economy rebound. He favored the gold standard and, with Congress, brought into effect many laws that reduced paper currency. By the end of his term, the economy was slowly rebounding. However, Hayes was faced with the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In this dispute, rail workers rioted in response to decreased wages and other labor complaints. The president even deployed the National Guard to quell the uproar. At the conclusion of his presidency, Hayes retired to Fremont, Ohio, where he and Lucy lived on their personal estate, Spiegel Grove. He acted as a philanthropist and worked with many educational, humanitarian, and other public causes. He served as a trustee for several colleges, supporting both traditional scholarly education and training in industrial arts. After experiencing chest pains, Rutherford B. Hayes died on January 17, 1893.
Rutherford B. Hayes: A Disputed Legacy
Hayes was proud of the job he’d done when he left the White House at the conclusion of his term. In his time, many would agree with him. Even Henry Adams, a harsh political critic of the era who had initially dismissed the president as a “nonentity” during his campaign, acknowledged Hayes’ “most successful administration.” However, in hindsight, historians have blamed Hayes for a number of his actions. His election led to the abandonment of Reconstruction, and during his term, racist policies were allowed to flourish in the South.
However, many of Hayes’ critics examine his actions through a modern lens, and that perspective is somewhat flawed in some considerations. Hayes had limited control over some of the events that occurred during his presidency, sharing responsibility with his predecessors, Congress, and the courts. In some situations, his options for reaction were limited, and he had to play the hand he was dealt, which does not always appear favorably when reexamined. Nevertheless, some argue that Hayes’ promise of leaving office after a single term damaged what progress he did make, abandoning the rebounding economy and small progressions made in civil service reforms. He is also considered the last president in the 19th century who had any interest in Black rights.
While Hayes’ legacy is disputed among scholars and is largely forgotten in the United States, he is a national hero in Paraguay. During his tenure, he served as a negotiator in a border dispute between Paraguay and Argentina. There was no global court system at the time, so countries occasionally asked one another to oversee negotiations. The long-held border argument was successfully settled, resulting in a large portion of land being awarded to Paraguay. This land accounted for 60 percent of Paraguay’s land mass. The decision is considered crucial in the country’s history, allowing it to survive. The country named a state after him, along with a city, and celebrates President Hayes Day annually on November 12.
Though his legacy is a controversial one, there’s no denying the impact of the often-overlooked Hayes on American history. He was far from inept in his political dealings and was dedicated to his morals. His presidency marked the end of an era and brought a new emphasis on integrity in government.
