Lucy Hayes
Lucy, wife of the 19th president Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), receives predominantly average scores in the Siena College study, with an overall mean rank of 63%. According to the White House Library, Lucy and “Rud” enjoyed a long and happy marriage, raising five children to adulthood. During her husband’s military service, Lucy earned the affectionate nickname “Mother Lucy” from troops for her dedicated care of the wounded. A supporter of the temperance movement, her parties were alcohol-free, earning her the press moniker “Lemonade Lucy.” Demonstrating a lively and gracious hosting style, Lucy remained actively engaged in politics and charity work, particularly focusing on aiding the city’s poor, reflecting her enduring commitment to social causes, as noted by the National First Ladies Library and the Rutherford B. Hayes Library.
Image Credit: Mathew Benjamin Brady, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons