1. The Do-Nothing Presidents
Hayes
1881 Garfield
Arthur
Cleveland
Harrison
Cleveland

2. Hayes 1877-1881 Republican His Fraudulency Compromise of 1877
Stole election from Tilden

3. Garfield 1881 Republican Deal for nomination: Shot by Charles Guiteau
A Stalwart for VP: Arthur
A Halfbreed for Sec. of State: Blaine
Shot by Charles Guiteau
Said: I am a Stalwart. Now Arthur is President!
Convinced many that it was time for civil service reform

4. Arthur
The Pendleton Act 1883:
Civil Service Reform

5. Cleveland 1885-1889 First Democrat since Civil War
Only President to serve two nonconsecutive terms
Mugwumps: Independent Republicans who were willing to desert their party to vote for an honest man…supported Cleveland because Blaine was associated with RR fraud
Ugly campaign…Albany Register: A Terrible Tale

6. Benjamin Harrison 1889-1893 Republican
Grandson of William Henry Harrison
Tariff was the issue
Cleveland lost due to Party Boss System (no electoral votes from New York)
Tariff of 1890 (McKinley Tariff)
Then economy began to go sour
Public linked poor economy with the tariff

7. Cleveland (again) 1893-1897 Democrat Panic of 1893
Gold drain: Down to $11 million gold reserves
U.S. nearly bankrupt
Deal with J.P. Morgan
Coxey’s Rebellion
Cancer surgery on yacht
Most hated man in America