Details
HAYES, Rutherford B. (1822-1893), President. Autograph letter signed, ("RB Hayes") as President, to George M. Childs, Executive Mansion, Washington, 15 December 1879. 1 full page, 8vo, on Executive Mansion stationery, marked "Private" at top.
THE PRESIDENT SEEKS A PRIVATE MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT GRANT. After attending the inauguration of his successor, fellow Republican Hayes, Grant and his family had traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and Africa from Spring 1877. They returned to the U.S., disembarking the day after the present letter. Apparently Hayes was anxious to see Grant privately, and had enquired about this prospect with the noted Philadelphia publisher, Childs (a friend of Mark Twain): "I am greatly obliged by your kindness, but desiring to visit Gen [Ulysses S.] Grant when he will have more leisure than during the week of the public festivities in his honor, I have arranged to accept the hospitality of Mr. John Welsh, at some late day during the General's visit in your City...."
Grant had hoped press coverage of his high-profile international trip might help mitigate the scandals that dogged his two terms as President. In fact, he planned to seek an unprecedented third term, since Hayes had publicly pledged to serve only one. It is intriguing to speculate that national political strategy may have been the reason for Hayes's urgency to confer with Grant. At the Republican presidential convention in June 1880, Grant was initially the clear front-runner, but after prolonged wrangling and many ballots, the nomination went, instead, to James Garfield.
THE PRESIDENT SEEKS A PRIVATE MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT GRANT. After attending the inauguration of his successor, fellow Republican Hayes, Grant and his family had traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and Africa from Spring 1877. They returned to the U.S., disembarking the day after the present letter. Apparently Hayes was anxious to see Grant privately, and had enquired about this prospect with the noted Philadelphia publisher, Childs (a friend of Mark Twain): "I am greatly obliged by your kindness, but desiring to visit Gen [Ulysses S.] Grant when he will have more leisure than during the week of the public festivities in his honor, I have arranged to accept the hospitality of Mr. John Welsh, at some late day during the General's visit in your City...."
Grant had hoped press coverage of his high-profile international trip might help mitigate the scandals that dogged his two terms as President. In fact, he planned to seek an unprecedented third term, since Hayes had publicly pledged to serve only one. It is intriguing to speculate that national political strategy may have been the reason for Hayes's urgency to confer with Grant. At the Republican presidential convention in June 1880, Grant was initially the clear front-runner, but after prolonged wrangling and many ballots, the nomination went, instead, to James Garfield.