Rumor has it that he won his presidency as part of a backroom deal: Hayes ends Reconstruction, he gets to be president. This led his critics to nickname him “Rutherfraud”. (The B stands for “Birchard”)
“Look, I get it. The task in front of us isn’t an easy one. But I can promise you one thing: it is worth it. So, I am asking you, for the sake of your kids and your grandkids, get into the arena.”