Rutherford B. Hayes — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He won the presidency in 1876 while losing the popular vote, took office only after a Congressional Commission awarded him 20 contested electoral votes, and ended Reconstruction in a deal that remains disputed to this day.

Biography

About

Born October 4, 1822, Hayes worked as Cincinnati's city solicitor and defended refugee slaves in court before the Civil War pulled him from politics into uniform. He was wounded five times in battle, rose to brevet major general, then returned to serve in Congress and three terms as Ohio's governor. The 1876 election against Samuel Tilden produced no clear winner until a Commission handed Hayes the White House — allegedly in exchange for withdrawing federal troops from the South. His presidency turned on the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, which he broke by sending in the Army in what became th…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes

said6 Dec 1880

It is the desire of the good people of the whole country that sectionalism as a factor in our politics should disappear.

— Fourth State of the Union Address (6 December 1880)

Rutherford B. Hayes

said31 Jul 1875

We all agree that neither the Government nor political parties ought to interfere with religious sects.

— Speech, Marion, Ohio (31 July 1875)

Rutherford B. Hayes

said10 Apr 1875

The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.

— Letter "to a leading editor" (10 April 1875), as quoted in The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes (1876)

Rutherford B. Hayes

said25 Aug 1861

I never enjoyed any business or mode of life as much as I do this. I really feel badly when I think of several of my intimate friends who are compelled to stay at home.

— Letter to Lucy Webb Hayes (25 August 1861)

Rutherford B. Hayes

said4 Jan 1861