Rutherford B. Hayes: Presidency (1877-81)

Figure 1.-- .

Nominated by Republicans in 1876, Hayes' liberalism, party loyalty, and a good war record made Hayes an acceptable Republican candidate. The election was the most disputed in history. It was decided by a special bipartisan commission in March 1877. Hayes thus was the beneficiary of the most fiercely disputed election in American history, but brought to the Executive Mansion dignity, honesty, and moderate reform. Hayes insisted that his appointments must be made on merit, not political considerations. Hayes pledged protection of the rights of Negroes in the South, but at the same time advocated the restoration of "wise, honest, and peaceful local self-government." This meant the withdrawal of troops. President Hayes was a moderate reformer. He promoted both civil service and prison reform. Hayes liberally used the veto power. Democrats tried to undermine the 14th and 15th amendments, in part by denying funding forenforcement. They would also attach riders to needed funding bills. Hayes had announced in advance that he would serve only one term. As part of his reformist principles, he believed in only one term, thinking it was enough time for any one president. In practice this meeant he did not get many of his programs enacted.

Election Campaign

Nominated by Republicans in 1876, Hayes' liberalism, party loyalty, and a good war record made Hayes an acceptable Republican candidate. Being from Ohio, a pivotal state was also important. He opposed Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York. Although a galaxy of famous Republican speakers, and even Mark Twain, stumped for Hayes, he expected the Democrats to win.

Disputed Election

The election was the most disputed in history. It was decided by a special bipartisan commission in March 1877. He gained the Presidency by a margin of only one electoral vote. Northern Republicans rportedly promised southern Democrats at least one Cabinet post, Federal patronage, subsidies for internal improvements, and withdrawal of troops from Louisiana and South Carolina. This so-called deal has been generally overstated.

Administration

Hayes thus was the beneficiary of the most fiercely disputed election in American history, but brought to the Executive Mansion dignity, honesty, and moderate reform. Hayes insisted that his appointments must be made on merit, not political considerations. For his Cabinet he chose men of high caliber, but outraged many Republicans because one member was an ex-Confederate and another had bolted the party as a Liberal Republican in 1872. His first term was particularly difficult as the Republicans lost both the House and Senate.

End of Reconstrucion

Hayes pledged protection of the rights of Negroes in the South, but at the same time advocated the restoration of "wise, honest, and peaceful local self-government." This meant the withdrawal of troops. Hayes hoped such conciliatory policies would lead to the building of a "new Republican party" in the South, to which white businessmen and conservatives would rally. The question for Hayes was no whether to pull Federal troops out of the South, but when. The House of Representatives was dominated by Democrats and they were refusing to approve appropriations for maintaining Federal troops in the South. Actually Reconstruction was already over in the South by the time Hayes became president. [Hoogenboom] The country was in a recession. Northern voters had no real interest in continuing education.

The U.S. Army by 1877 was very small, only about 25,000 men. Most of it was deployed in the West involved in the Indian campaign. Federal troops only remained in Louisiana and South Carolina. Hayes managed to extracted a solemn pledge from Governors Hampton? and Nichols to protect Black and white Republican voting rights and to maintain access to education. Within a year both have reneged on their pledges. [Hoogenboom] Through Klan intimidation and later actual state laws, Black were systematically denied the right to vote. They were excluded from white schools and the Southern state only grudengly established poorly funded separay schools for Blacks.

The South after the withdrawl of Federal troops proved a Democratic strong hold until the Johnson-Goldwater election of 1964, nearly 100 years later. Many of the leaders of the new South did indeed favor Republican economic policies and approved of Hayes's financial conservatism, but they faced annihilation at the polls if they were to join the party of Reconstruction.

Reforms

President Hayes was a moderate reformer. He promoted both civil service and prison reform.

Vetos

Hayes liberally used the veto power. Democrats tried to undermine the 14th and 15th amendments, in part by denying funding forenforcement. They would also attach riders to needed funding bills.

Foreign Affairs

There were some international issues during the Hayes Administration. The issues included: Chinese immigration, Mexican banditry, and the French DeLesseps canal project in Panama. Interestingly, available information on the DeLesseps family provide interesting insights on French boys' clothes.

Bully Pulpit

Hayes became known as "Rutherford the Rover". He traveled accross the country by train, giving short speeches. He did not campaign for other Republican candidates. His speches were almost sermons on the issues that he cared most about.

One Term

Hayes had announced in advance that he would serve only one term. As part of his reformist principles, he believed in only one term, thinking it was enough time for any one president. In practice this meeant he did not get many of his programs enacted. Hayes retired to Spiegel Grove, his home in Fremont, Ohio, in 1881. He died in 1893. Hayes resigned after one term and worked for various social reforms. He died January 17, 1893 at Fremont, Ohio.

Sources

Some important sources on Hayes include:

Barnard, Harry. Rutherford B. Hayes and His America (1954; reprint, Russell & Russell 1967).

Bishop, A., ed. Rutherford B. Hayes, 1822-1893 (Oceana Pub. 1969).

Fitzgerald, Carol B., ed. Rutherford B. Hayes (Meckler Pub. 1991)

Geer, E. A. First Lady (Kent State Univ. Press 1984)

Hayes, Rutherford B. Hayes: The Diary of a President, 1875-1881, ed. by T. Harry Williams (McKay 1964)

Hoogenboom, Ari. Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President.

Hoogenboom, Ari. The Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes (Univ. Press of Kansas, 1988).

Hoogenboom, Ari. Book TV, C-Span 2, April 28, 1994.

Howells, William D. Sketch of the Life and Character of Rutherford B. Hayes (1876; reprint, R. West 1980).