author
Rutherford Birchard Hayes
1822–1893
A Civil War veteran, reform-minded governor, and the 19th president of the United States, he is remembered for steering the country through the uneasy end of Reconstruction. His life also left behind an unusually rich paper trail, making him a vivid figure for readers who enjoy history told through character as much as events.
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 legal career in Ohio. During the Civil War, he served in the Union Army, was wounded several times, and earned a reputation for personal bravery and steady leadership.
After the war, he moved fully into politics, serving in Congress, then as governor of Ohio, and finally as the 19th president of the United States from 1877 to 1881. His presidency is often linked to the end of Reconstruction, efforts toward civil service reform, and attempts to restore trust in government after years of scandal and division.
He and his wife, Lucy, later returned to Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio. Because his letters, diaries, and family papers were carefully preserved, historians have been able to see him not just as a president, but as a thoughtful, disciplined man deeply engaged with the moral and political questions of his time.