Rutherford+B.+Hayes+(Presidency)

Background

 * born in 1822 in Ohio
 * went to Harvard Law but after 5 years moved to Cincinnati as a Whig leader
 * fought in Civil War and became brevet major general

Early Political Career

 * nominated by Cincinnati Republicans as Rep. while fighting in Civil War
 * elected Representative in 1865
 * Governor of Ohio 1867-1876 (served 3 terms)

Presidential Election

 * Hayes v. Tilden
 * Mark Twain and Republians spoke in favor of Hayes
 * expect Democrats to win (popular vote: 4,300,000 for Tilden and 4,036,000 for Hayes)
 * disputed results
 * depend on contested electoral votes in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana
 * Congress set up Electoral Commission in Jan. 1877 to settle dispute
 * 8 Rep. and 7 Dem. (vote for Hayes 8 to 7)
 * final electoral count: 185 to 184

Presidency

 * 19th president (1877-1881)
 * first to take oath in the White House (in Red Room) and then publicly at Capitol
 * ceremony held in secret
 * Northern Republicans promised Dem: at least 1 Cabinet position, Federal patronage, subsidies for internal improvements, and withdrawal of troops from Louisiana and South Carolina
 * but said his appointments would be made based on merit not political promises
 * one was ex-Confederate, which upset Northern Rep.
 * ordered federal troops to suppress Great Railroad Strike of 1877
 * withdrew troops from the South (end Reconstruction)
 * pledged protection of African Americans rights in South
 * but hoped new policies would lead to new Republican party in South that white businessmen/conservatives would rally to
 * attempt to build Panama Canal but failed (later built under Theodore Roosevelt)
 * banned wine/liqour from White House as a part of the Temperance​ movement
 * vetoed bill to prevent further Chinese immigration
 * sign bill that allowed female attorneys to argue cases before Supreme Court for the first time
 * served 1 term (retire in 1881 to his home of Spiegel Grove)

Random Facts

 * first president to:
 * have telephone in White House
 * have typewriter in White House
 * travel to West Coast during presidency
 * only pres. that fought and was wounded 4 times in Civil War
 * began the Easter Egg Roll on White House lawn in 1878
 * wife was first to be called "first lady"
 * 1st first lady to have graduated from college

Sources ​[|White House site of Presidents] [|more info]

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