Welcome to Part Nineteen! It’s time for America’s hottest president, the one who entered in a storm of controversy. Let’s dive into the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes:
First day in office- 4th March 1877
It was Rutherford B. Hayes’ first day in office today- kind of. The inauguration day fell on a Sunday, so Hayes took the oath privately the day before- the first to do so inside the White House.. His public inauguration would be the next day.
Public inauguration- 5th March 1877
On this day, Rutherford B. Hayes took the oath of office publically. He was sworn in by Chief Justice Morrison Waite on the East Portico of the US Capitol. The weather was cloudy with hints of light snow. Hayes was brief and clear in his inaugural address: ‘Called to the duties of this great trust, I proceed, in compliance with usage, to announce some of the leading principles, on the subjects that now chiefly engage the public attention, by which it is my desire to be guided in the discharge of those duties.’ There was no inaugural call due to the contentious nature of the election, as discussed in the previous article.
Sent Cabinet choices to Senate- 8th March 1877
Hayes sent his Cabinet choices to the Senate on this day. Members of the Senate leadership, including members of the Republican Party, initially opposed them. Hayes had offended many in his own party with his choices, such as former Democrat and Confederate David M. Key.
All of his Cabinet is confirmed- 12th March 1877
Despite opposition from his own party, Hayes managed to get his Cabinet confirmed with the help of an unlikely source- Southern Democrats.
Frederick Douglass named US Marshal for DC- 15th March 1877
Frederick Douglass, the former slave and noted Civil Rights leader, was named by Rutherford B. Hayes as the first African-American US Marshall for DC. This came from Hayes’ generally supportive views on civil rights. Douglass was confirmed two days later.
Last federal troops are ordered out of the South- 22nd April 1877
Reconstruction essentially ended on this day when the last federal troops were ordered out of the South by Hayes. African-Americans in the South would no longer have federal protection, paving the way for the Jim Crow era.
First telephone installed in the White House- 10th May 1877
It was a momentous day for technology when the first telephone was installed in the White House on this day. The telephone was installed in the White House telegraph room with the simple number of 1. It was not often used, as there weren’t too many other telephones around.
First engagement in the Nez Perce War- 17th June 1877
Fighting between settlers and Native Americans were yet to stop, and were indeed still continuing. The first engagement of the Nez Perce War- the Battle of White Bird Canyon, modern-day Idaho, occurred on this day. The Nez Perce were a tribe who were fighting against being forcefully removed from their lands. Both sides would lose over one hundred men in the course of several months, and the Nez Perce would be forced to surrender.
Beginning of the Great Railroad Strike- 18th July 1877
The Great Railroad Strike started on this day. When bosses cut workers’ pay by 10%, strikes began. Around 100,000 men went on strike and forced half of all railroads to shut down for two months. Violence soon followed, with especially bad fighting in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh alone would see over sixty men dead. Hayes sent federal troops to quell the strikes. This worked, but Hayes would later feel guilt over it. He did believe that the workers had legitimate cause for concern but also didn’t believe it was the job of the federal government to get involved.
First State of the Union Address- 3rd December 1877
Hayes’ first State of the Union Address was delivered on this day. It was in in-depth discussion of the issues that the country was facing, as well as successes. He, for example, talked about the Nez Perce war detailed above: ‘A long and arduous campaign has been prosecuted, with final complete success, against a portion of the Nez Perce’ tribe of Indians. A full account of this campaign will be found in the report of the General of the Army. It will be seen that in its course several severe battles were fought, in which a number of gallant officers and men lost their lives.’
Signs Army Appropriations Act- 18th June 1878
Also known as the Posse Comitatus Act, the Army Appropriations Act limited the use of the army in domestic cases unless explicitly authorised to by the law or the Constitution. It was updated in 1956, 1981 and 2021 to include other branches of the armed forces.
Fires Chester A. Arthur from New York Customs House- 11th July 1878
Hayes, who had supported reform and ending the spoils system, banned federal office holders from taking part in any party or electoral activities. One man who opposed this was future US president Chester A. Arthur. Angered at Arthur, who had already clashed with him, Hayes suspended Arthur before firing him on this day. Fellow Customs House official Alonzo B. Cornell was also fired. Two years later, Arthur would be elected Vice President, and would become president following President Garfield’s untimely death.
Second State of the Union Address- 2nd December 1878
Hayes’ second State of the Union Address was delivered on this day. It was an optimistic and hopeful speech, highlighting the successes in his administration thus far, though subjects such as an epidemic of yellow fever were spoken of negatively. ‘We are at peace with all other nations. Our public credit has greatly improved, and is perhaps now stronger than ever before. Abundant harvests have rewarded the labors of those who till the soil, our manufacturing industries are reviving, and it is believed that general prosperity, which has been so long anxiously looked for, is at last within our reach.’
Resumes gold payment for Civil War greenbacks- 1st January 1879
Greenbacks were emergency Civil War forms of currency that were legal tender, but not backed by silver or gold. An 1875 act had forced the government to redeem them in gold so that they may leave circulation. The gold payments were thus resumed on this day.
Signs law allowing women to practice before the Supreme Court- 15th February 1879
In an important piece of women’s rights legislation, Hayes signed a law that allowed women to practice before the Supreme Court. This was a result of the work of pioneering feminist Belva Ann Lockwood, who had been prevented from doing such a thing. She was the first woman permitted to do this following the bill’s signing. Hayes’ beloved wife Lucy was the first First Lady to have received a college education, and was known for her progressive views.
Vetoed act restricting Chinese immigration- 1st March 1879
Hayes controversially vetoed the Fifteen Passenger Bill on this day. The bill sought to restrict the number of Chinese immigrants allowed into the USA on ships. The Burlingame Treaty of 1869 had enacted liberal immigration laws and Hayes did not wish to renege on it, as well as put American citizens in China at risk. Hayes vetoed it, angering Americans in the West who blamed Chinese immigrants for their poor economy. This was the first in a number of consecutive vetoes made by Hayes.
Warns against unauthorised settlements in Native lands- 26th April 1879
On this day, Hayes warned against unauthorised settlements in Native lands. In a proclamation, Hayes said ‘I, Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States, do admonish and warn all such persons so intending or preparing to remove upon said lands or into said Territory without permission of the proper agent of the Indian Department against any attempt to so remove or settle upon any of the lands of said Territory.’ Hayes took a paternalistic view regarding Native affairs, but did strongly oppose any settlements in land that was theirs.
Vetoed Army Appropriations Bill-29th April 1879
Hayes vetoed the Army Appropriations Bill on this day. The bill would have banned federal troops from overseeing elections, especially in the former Confederacy. Hayes opposed this, arguing that it was necessary to maintain the rights of African-American voters, something he felt very strongly about, and the integrity of elections. He also argued that no soldier had ever interfered with an election. The veto was sustained.
Vetoes An act making appropriations to pay fees of United States marshals and their general deputies- 30th June 1879.
Hayes vetoed the above act on this day, his reasoning being that it would put him in too difficult a position. It is the first major example of ‘appropriation riders.’ Hayes’ veto saw some elements of the government remain unfunded until the middle of the next year.
Third State of the Union Address- 1st December 1879
Hayes’ third State of the Union Address was delivered today. The lengthy address saw a range of issues discussed, from civil service reform and legal tender to relations with Britain and Russia. ‘The members of the Forty-sixth Congress have assembled in their first regular session under circumstances calling for mutual congratulation and grateful acknowledgment to the Giver of All Good for the large and unusual measure of national prosperity which we now enjoy.’
Starts presidential trip- 26th August 1880
Hayes started a presidential trip which would see him become the first sitting president to visit the West Coast. His trip took him from Iowa to New Mexico through several states, and included a stop at Yosemite.
Ends Presidential trip- 6th November 1880
The presidential trip, which lasted seventy-three days, ended on this day.
Negotiated two treaties with China- 17th November 1880
Hayes negotiated two treaties with China on this day, one regarding immigration and the other trade. They would be announced to the Senate in January.
Fourth State of the Union- 17th November 1880
Hayes’ fourth and final State of the Union Address was delivered on this day. Issues discussed include civil service reform, Mormons, South America and the fiscal year. ‘I congratulate you on the continued and increasing prosperity of our country. By the favor of Divine Providence we have been blessed during the past year with health, with abundant harvests, with profitable employment for all our people, and with contentment at home, and with peace and friendship with other nations.’
Leaves office- 4th March 1881
Following the contentious nature of the 1876 election, Hayes promised to serve only one term. That he did, leaving office on this day and handing the keys to the White House over to James A. Garfield. Hayes devoted his post-presidency to education, fighting furiously for improved universities and for scholarships for African-Americans. He continued to dislike Chester A. Arthur, but liked James A. Garfield and Grover Cleveland. Rutherford B. Hayes died of a heart attack on the 17th January 1893 aged seventy. His last words were ‘I know I’m going where Lucy is,’ referencing his beloved wife, who had died nearly four years previously. Hayes is ranked in the lower half of the presidents, criticised for the end of Reconstruction and return to the gold standard. Interestingly, he is beloved in Paraguay of all places. He’d been chosen as an arbitrator in the War of the Triple Alliance and ruled in their favour. The Paraguyans named a city and a department after him among other things. Viva Presidente Hayes!
That’s it for Rutherford B. Hayes. Tune in next week for Chester A. Arthur, in which we’ll see him deal with Civil Service reform, Chinese immigrants and the Washington Monument.
