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==Presidency==

==Presidency==

Hayes had fewer popular votes than his opponent [[Samuel J. Tilden]], and so entered the White House with his title clouded by the disputed election of 1876. Opponents called him "His Fraudulency" and "Rutherfraud B. Hayes," but soon he began to reassert the authority of the presidency and the sarcasm faded away. Hayes promoted [[Civil Service Reform]] to reduce the corruption inherent in the linkage between vote-seeking and office-holding. He named well-known reformers in high offices, and, ordering the last troops out of South Carolina  

Hayes had fewer popular votes than his opponent [[Samuel J. Tilden]], and so entered the White House with his title clouded by the disputed election of 1876. Opponents called him "His Fraudulency" and "Rutherfraud B. Hayes," but soon he began to reassert the authority of the presidency and the sarcasm faded away. Hayes promoted [[Civil Service Reform]] to reduce the corruption inherent in the linkage between vote-seeking and office-holding. He named well-known reformers in high offices, and, ordering the last troops out of South Carolina  

and Louisiana, ended [[Reconstruction]]. He hoped to revive the Republican party in the South by persuading business-oriented conservatives (most of them ex-Whigs) to join a national party that would support their economic interests more effectively than the Democrats did. He failed because the South was polarized on race. Committed to the gold standard--the only basis, Hayes thought, of a sound currency--in 1878 he vetoed the Bland-Allison Silver Purchase bill, which called for the partial coinage of  

and Louisiana, ended [[Reconstruction]]. He hoped to revive the Republican party in the South by persuading business-oriented conservatives (most of them ex-Whigs) to join a national party that would support their economic interests more effectively than the Democrats did. He failed because the South was polarized on race. Committed to the gold standard—the only basis, Hayes thought, of a sound currency—in 1878 he vetoed the Bland-Allison Silver Purchase bill, which called for the partial coinage of  

silver, but Congress passed it over his veto. He and First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes refused to serve alcoholic beverages, even at state functions; they called her "Lemonade Lucy."

silver, but Congress passed it over his veto. He and First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes refused to serve alcoholic beverages, even at state functions; they called her "Lemonade Lucy."

*  Williams, Charles R. ed. ''Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes'' (5 vol  1922–1926); [http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/diaries/ searchable online edition, 3000 pages]

*  Williams, Charles R. ed. ''Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes'' (5 vol  1922–1926); [http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/diaries/ searchable online edition, 3000 pages]

* Williams, T. Harry. ed., ''Hayes: The Diary of a President'' (1964), one volume abridged edition with many insights into Hayes' character and personality.

* Williams, T. Harry. ed., ''Hayes: The Diary of a President'' (1964), one volume abridged edition with many insights into Hayes' character and personality.

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/ Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center], a major resource for teachers and researchers

* [http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/ Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center], a major resource for teachers and researchers