Overview

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born on October 4, 1822 and died on January 17, 1893. He served as the 19th president of the United States, holding office for a single term from 1877 to 1881. A member of the Republican Party, Hayes is best known for the contested election of 1876 and for policies that sought reconciliation after the Civil War.

Early life, education and career

Hayes trained as a lawyer and served in the Union Army during the Civil War, rising to a general officer's responsibilities. After the war he entered politics in his home state, where he was elected governor of Ohio several times. His legal background, military service and moderate temperament shaped his approach to public life.

The disputed 1876 election and the presidency

The presidential contest of 1876 was sharply contested. Hayes narrowly defeated the Democratic nominee Samuel Tilden after Congress appointed a special Electoral Commission to resolve disputed returns; the controversy is often referred to collectively with the compromise and proceedings that followed. Once in office, Hayes sought to calm sectional tensions and oversaw the withdrawal of federal troops from parts of the South, an action that effectively ended Reconstruction.

During his term Hayes emphasized civil service reform, attempting to reduce the power of partisan patronage and to promote merit-based appointments. He also aimed to balance competing regional interests and to restore confidence in the executive after a divisive election. Hayes declined to stand for re-election and left the presidency after one term.

Legacy and notable facts

  • Hayes is remembered for a reputation for personal integrity and for presiding over a transitional period in post–Civil War America.
  • His handling of the 1876 election and the end of federal Reconstruction policies remain subjects of study and debate.
  • Before the presidency he served his state in both legal and executive roles and was a Union officer during the war.
  • After leaving office he remained active in civic causes and maintained a quieter public life until his death in 1893.