14. Rutherford B. Hayes
SRI Ranking: 31
Brookings Ranking: 30
Rutherford B. Hayes became the 19th President of the United States after controversial elections in which he lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College after Congressional commission ruling. In order to have Democrats agree with the ruling, Hayes had to withdraw army units from southern states and end Reconstruction, despite his beliefs. He spent his term in a constant struggle with the Democrat-dominated Congress and apart from some civil service reforms, he didn’t manage to accomplish much.
