Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President Rutherford B. Hayes:
Personal Information on Rutherford B. Hayes:
- Nineteenth President (1877-1881)
- Birthday: October 4, 1822 (Friday)
- Birthplace: Delaware, Ohio
- Birthplace Website: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ Birthplace
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Date of Death: January 17, 1893 (Tuesday)
- Place of Death: Fremont, Ohio
- Place of Burial: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum, Fremont, Ohio
- Cause of Death: Heart Disease
- Age: 70 years old
- Length of Retirement: 4337 days
- Burial website: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum
- Presidential Library website: Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum
Interesting Rutherford B. Hayes facts:
- Rutherford B. Hayes was actually nominated by the Republicans to run for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District in 1864. It was during the Civil War and he was serving in the Army of the Shenandoah. His friends asked him to leave the army to campaign. Hayes would reply, an “officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for Congress ought to be scalped.” He would just write letters stating where he stood on issues. He would defeat the incumbent, Democrat Alexander Long, by over 2,400 votes.
- Rutherford B. Hayes would be given the rank of Brevet Major General during the Civil War. He would be wounded five times, with the most serious of those injuries occurring at the Battle of South Mountain (also know as the Battle of Boonsboro Gap). Hayes was a commander during that battle and ironically, William McKinley, another future President, would serve as Commissary Sergeant during that same battle.
- Rutherford B. Hayes was one of seventeen state Governors to become President. The other sixteen men who served as state Governors before they become President are: Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren, Tyler, Polk, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Hayes was the first person to serve as Governor and go directly into the Presidency while he was Governor. He is one of seven men serving as Governor who went directly into the White House. The other six men to jump right into the White House while they were Governor are: Cleveland, McKinley, Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Clinton, and George W. Bush.
My favorite Rutherford B. Hayes Quotes:
He serves his party best who serves his country best.
The bold enterprises are the successful ones. Take counsel of hopes rather than of fears to win in this business.
The progress of society is mainly the improvement in the condition of the workingmen of the world.
The truth is, this being an errand boy to one hundred and fifty thousand people tires me so by night I am ready for bed instead of soirees.
Conscience is the authentic voice of God to you.
Rutherford B. Hayes blogs (click the title to go to that page):
Rutherford B. Hayes page on Presidential Crossroads (click “Rutherford B. Hayes” below):
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes Blogs:
His wife – “Lemonade” Lucy Hayes
What similiar trait do I have with Presidents Polk through Hayes
Personal thoughts on Rutherford B. Hayes:
Strengths:
Strong morals, Loyalty, Honest
Weaknesses:
Not real good at rallying the opposition, Not a commanding presence
Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): 2
Comments:
Although he is not usually ranked as one of our worst Presidents by most historians, very few rank him very high. He is usually in the bottom third of most Presidential rankings. He is probably most know as the President who ended Reconstruction. However, that had less to do with his will or direction, and more to do with Congress’ shutting down the funding for it. His support for the Coinage Act of 1873 (stopped production of silver coins over one dollar, therefore supporting the gold standard) probably added to the fire of the Panic of 1873. Waiting for state Governors to demand federal troops, before sending them to stop riots and destruction, during the Grand Railroad Strike of 1877 showed a lack of bold leadership. He started us on the pathway to destroying the spoils system (where rewarding political supporters trumped merit) was a positive step to take, but, then again, he took no bold steps to push it through. I would tend to agree with most historians that he wasn’t as bad as some of the others who have served as President, but he was not a strong leader at all.
Favorite Rutherford B. Hayes book:
Rutherford B. Hayes by Hans L. Trefousse
Favorite Rutherford B. Hayes story:
Rutherford B. Hayes had real strong Christian convictions. His convictions were the type that he lived them. One of those examples is his swearing in. March 4, 1877 (the day he was to be inaugurated) was a Sunday. Hayes did not believe it was right to be sworn in on a Sunday. Instead, he was sworn in on Saturday, March 3, in the Red Room of the White House. He would take his public oath on Monday at the East Portico of the United States Capitol.
Most memorable Rutherford B. Hayes memory:
Seems like there is always sometime in our life, usually around elementary or middle school, where we have a teacher who assigns us the task of writing about one of the Presidents. Usually we do not get to pick the President. The one I was assigned during that time was Rutherford B. Hayes. I don’t remember carrying any great knowledge about him through my life. Before I started really reading about all the Presidents, I think all I remembered about him was that he was the nineteenth President and he was one of those Reconstruction Presidents who did very little to make the post-Civil War transition smooth.
Favorite Rutherford B. Hayes possession (see picture at the top):
I don’t have many Hayes items, so of those I do have, I would pick the Rutherford B. Hayes postcard (Morris Katz – 1967)
