presidential blunders

It's tough for a lame duck president to push his agenda forward. When a president announces he won't run for re-election or when he nears the end of his second term, the Congress has historically gone its own way. So to retain power, it behooves a president to avoid being seen as a short timer. Unless you're Rutherford B. Hayes. He campaigned on a promise to serve only one term. Shortly after becoming president, he affirmed his intention to not seek a second term. Hayes was a staunch supporter of single terms for presidents. In fact, in his inaugural address, given on March 5, 1877, Hayes announced his support for a single term of six years.

"The President of the United States of necessity owes his election to office to the suffrage and zealous labors of a political party, the members of which cherish with ardor and regard as of essential importance the principles of their party organization; but he should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves the country best. In furtherance of the reform we seek, and in other important respects a change of great importance, I recommend an amendment to the Constitution prescribing a term of six years for the presidential office and forbidding a re-election."

Hayes was unsuccessful at convincing Congress to approve this change. Being a man of his word, Hayes did not stand for re-election. Instead, he left office and retired to his home in Fremont Ohio, serving on the board of trustees of Ohio State University until his death in 1893.