Happy Birthday to my Namesake
Today is the birthday of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, 19th President of the United States. Hayes attempts at nation healing by removing troops from the South, resulted in re-entrenchment of bigoted leaders. His heart however was in the right place.
His work to reform civil service was insufficient to prevent a crazed job seeker from killing his successor, James Garfield. It would take the 21st President, Chester Arthur to complete the civil service reform started by Hayes.
Hayes devoted his post-presidential years to humanitarian causes including minority education.
Add comment October 4, 2007
