Rutherford B. Hayes became President at a time when
Americans were losing faith in the Government after years
of political scandals and economic problems. He gave hope
back to the Americans. Rutherford B. Hayes was born in
1822 in Delaware, Ohio. An avid reader, he graduated at
the top of his class at Kenyon School, then attended
Harvard Law School. In 1845, he returned to his home state
to practice law. When the Civil War began, Hayes
volunteered and helped to organize a military company
which fought in several violent battles. While still at war,
he was elected to the Ohio State Congress but did not take
his seat until peace was declared. In 1867 he was elected
governor of Ohio and served three terms. In 1876, Hayes
won the Republican party's nomination for the presidency.
The election was so close that an electoral commission met
to decide the outcome (185 to 184 ) electoral votes for
Hayes. As president, Hayes was determined to end weak
Reconstruction policies that caused problems in the South.
He removed federal troops and called for wise, honest and
local self-government and outlawed carpet bagging in
which Northerners went to the South to exploit the
financial misfortunes. In 1879, Congress agreed to let
people redeem the paper money that had been assured
during the Civil War for gold. Hayes also proposed
legislation that laid the groundwork for future Civil Service
Reforms. Although he was only fifty-nine in 1881, Hayes
chose not to seek a second term. He retired to spend his
last year in supporting government reforms education, and
religious charities. Hayes died in 1893 in Fremont, Ohio.