Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes (October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was the 19th President of the United States (1877 – 1881).

Attributed

An amazing invention - but who would ever want to use one?
- About the telephone.

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.

Disunion and civil war are at hand, and yet I fear disunion and war less than compromise.

Fighting battles is like courting girls: those who make the most pretensions and are boldest usually win.

I am not liked as a President by the politicians in office, in the press, or in Congress. But I am content to abide the judgment - the sober second thought - of the people.

In avoiding the appearance of evil, I am not sure but I have sometimes unnecessarily deprived myself and others of innocent enjoyments.

It is the desire of the good people of the whole country that sectionalism as a factor in our politics should disappear...'

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.

Let me assure my countrymen of the Southern States that it is my earnest desire to regard and promote their truest interest— the interests of the white and of the colored people both and equally—and to put forth my best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out in our political affairs the color line and the distinction between North and South, to the end that we may have not merely a united North or a united South, but a united country.

Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in his own heart, I mean) than I do.

Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and oppression.

The President of the United States of necessity owes his election to office to the suffrage and zealous labors of a political party, ...but he should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves the country best.

There can be no complete and permanent reform of the civil service until public opinion emancipates congressmen from all control and influence over government patronage . . . No proper legislation is to be expected as long as members of Congress are engaged in procuring offices for their constituents.