Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford Birchard Hayes was born on October 4, 1822, in Delaware, Ohio. He was the son of Rutherford Hayes Jr., a storekeeper, and Sophia Birchard. His father died ten weeks before his birth, and he was raised by his mother, who took on several roles to support the family. Hayes grew up in a household that valued education, and he went on to attend Kenyon College and Harvard Law School.

On December 30, 1852, Rutherford B. Hayes married Lucy Ware Webb. The couple had met when Hayes was a student at Kenyon College and Lucy was the daughter of one of his professors. Lucy Ware Hayes would later become known as a proponent of civil rights and the first First Lady to have a college degree. Their strong partnership would play a significant role in his political career.

The 1876 United States presidential election was one of the most contentious and controversial in American history. Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate, and Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic candidate, were embroiled in a dispute over the electoral votes. Hayes won with 185 electoral votes to Tilden's 184 after a compromise was reached to end Reconstruction in the southern states, despite Tilden winning the popular vote.

Rutherford B. Hayes was inaugurated as the 19th president of the United States on March 3, 1877, in the White House Red Room, becoming the first president to take the oath there. His inauguration came after a highly disputed electoral process, and he pledged to support civil rights and restore dignity to the office. His presidency marked a turning point in Reconstruction policies in the South.

Rutherford B. Hayes effectively ended Reconstruction in April 1877 by withdrawing federal troops from the remaining southern states of South Carolina and Louisiana. This move was part of the Compromise of 1877, which resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election between Hayes and Tilden. The withdrawal of troops marked the end of federal efforts to protect the rights of African Americans in the South.

President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the Posse Comitatus Act into law on May 16, 1878. This act limited the powers of the federal government in using federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies within the United States. The law represented a significant shift in federal policy towards the use of military forces in domestic affairs and demonstrated Hayes's commitment to reducing federal intervention in the South.

On March 1, 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes vetoed a bill that would have placed severe restrictions on Chinese immigration. The bill, known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, aimed to ban Chinese laborers from entering the United States, but Hayes vetoed it, citing treaty obligations with China and the potential negative economic impacts. His veto reflected his international focus and the complexity of immigrant labor issues.

On September 19, 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes reaffirmed his earlier promise not to seek re-election, solidifying his tenure as a single-term president. Hayes had initially stated his intention to serve only one term during his inaugural address. His decision was influenced by the controversial circumstances of his election and his desire to pursue reform without political constraints.

Rutherford B. Hayes died on January 17, 1893, at his home in Fremont, Ohio, after suffering a heart attack. He was 70 years old. Hayes spent his post-presidency years advocating for education and veterans' causes. His presidency was remembered for the end of Reconstruction and efforts towards civil service reform. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in post-Civil War American history.