Lucy Webb Hayes
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| Lucy Ware Webb Hayes | |
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| In office March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 |
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| Preceded by | Julia Grant |
| Succeeded by | Lucretia Garfield |
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| Born | August 28, 1831 Chillicothe, Ohio United States |
| Died | June 25, 1889 (aged 57) Fremont, Ohio, United States |
| Spouse | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Occupation | First Lady of the United States |
Lucy Ware Webb Hayes sometimes credited as Lemonade Lucy (August 28, 1831 – June 25, 1889) was the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes of the United States of America and one of the most popular First Ladies of the nineteenth century. Deeply religious, she despised slavery and converted her husband – whose successful career in the Union Army later led him into politics – to the abolitionist cause.
Once in the White House, Lucy Hayes was considered the most popular hostess since Dolley Madison. She was a strong supporter of Temperance, and no alcohol was served in the White House during the Hayes administration, prompting the press to dub her "Lemonade Lucy." She also introduced the custom of having children roll Easter eggs on the White House lawn.
Upon her death, flags across the United States were lowered to half-mast in honor of the "most idolized woman in America." Lucy Hayes was educated at Ohio Wesleyan University, as the first American First Lady to graduate from college.
[edit] Fictional depictions
In Leonard Bernstein's musical comedy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the First Lady sings the "Duet for One", in which she transforms from Mrs. Grant into Lucy Webb Hayes.
In the Lucky Luke comic book Sarah Bernhardt, President Rutherford B. Hayes' wife is portrayed as being one of many who strongly disapproves of the titular actress' tour of the United States, given her reputation for loose morality. Disguised as a man called "George", the First Lady infiltrates Sarah's entourage and sabotages their tour throughout the US, though she does come to accept Sarah when the French actress' charms and singing talent moves a tribe of hostile Indians. 'The president's wife' is not mentioned by name in the book, and thus might be regarded as fictional, although she and her husband do resemble Webb and Rutherford Hayes in many ways.
[edit] External links
- Lucy Ware Webb Hayes - Official White House biography
- Lucy Hayes’ Civil War Letters
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| Preceded by Julia Dent Grant |
First Lady of the United States 1877–1881 |
Succeeded by Lucretia Rudolph Garfield |
