Rutherford B. Hayes

19th President

Republican

(1822-1893)

He serves his party best who serves his country best.

It will be the duty of the Executive, with sufficient appropriations

for the purpose, to prosecute unsparingly all who have been engaged

in depriving citizens of the rights guaranteed to them by

the Constitution.

While still in the army the Cincinnati Republicans ran him for the House of Representatives. He accepted the nomination, but would not campaign,explaining, "an officer fit for duty who at this crisis would abandon

his post to electioneer... ought to be scalped."

Coming in, I was denounced as a fraud by all the extreme men of the

opposing party, and as an ingrate and a traitor by the same class of

men in my own party. Going out, I have the good will, blessings, and

approval of the best people of all parties . . .

{read his history here: White House Archives

Hayes's election depended upon contested electoral votes in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Florida. I suppose the democrats back then thought the election was stolen too.....I'll swannee, they never change.}

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