author
Rutherford Birchard Hayes
1822–1893
A Civil War veteran, reform-minded governor of Ohio, and the 19th president of the United States, he came to the White House after one of the most disputed elections in American history. His presidency is often remembered for ending Reconstruction and pushing for cleaner, more disciplined government.
1 Audiobook
State of the Union Addresses
by Rutherford Birchard Hayes
About the author
Born in Delaware, Ohio, in 1822, he studied at Kenyon College and Harvard Law School before building a successful law practice in Cincinnati. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army, was wounded several times, and earned a reputation for personal courage and steady leadership.
After the war, he moved into politics as a Republican, serving briefly in Congress and then as governor of Ohio. In 1876 he won the presidency after a fiercely contested election against Samuel J. Tilden, and he became the 19th president of the United States in 1877.
As president, he tried to restore trust in government after years of scandal and supported civil service reform. His administration also marked the end of federal Reconstruction in the South, a turning point that made his presidency both important and deeply debated. After leaving office, he returned to Spiegel Grove in Ohio and remained active in public causes until his death in 1893.