Plucking the Eagle's Wings

Plucking the Eagle's Wings

election candidates were Rutherford Hayes and Samuel Tilden. Following is a list of remarkable comparisons between the two elections: There were three major candidates in 2000: George Bush-Republican Albert Gore-Democrat Ralph Nader-Green Party -The Democrat won the Popular Vote -The Democrat won the Popular Vote -The Republican won the Electoral Vote by 1 (271 for Bush; he needed 270 to be elected) -The election in Florida was disputed -The election in Florida was disputed -The nation was in a partisan split -The nation was in a partisan split The Parallels Between Lucy Hayes and Laura Bush Before comparing the presidents, I want to look at some parallels between Mrs. Lucy Hayes and Mrs. Laura Bush. Lucy Hayes disapproved of alcohol and she and her husband did not drink it. She did not allow alcohol to be served in the White House, and she and her husband both agreed on this policy. George Bush stopped drinking alcohol after his 40 th birthday in 1986 at the insistence of his wife, Laura. Lucy Hayes spearheaded literacy efforts and Laura Bush, who is a former librarian, also champions literacy. In fact, in Texas she helped to raise $600,000 to support state libraries. As did Lucy Hayes, Laura Bush will promote literacy as the first lady. Lucy Hayes was a devout Christian who belonged to the Disciples of Christ, a Methodist church. Laura Bush is a devout Christian, and she and her husband attended a Methodist church in Texas. Laura is a voracious reader, as was Lucy, and both ladies encouraged their families to read. It is said of Mrs. Hayes that she much preferred a literary circle or informal party to a state reception. An article in USA Today on December 14, 2000 stated that the Bushes have little for the ceremonial trappings of office—the formal dinners, the speeches, and the press conferences. The Parallels Between Rutherford Hayes and George W. Bush Not only are the elections of 1876 and 2000 similar, the There were three candidates in 1876: Rutherford Hayes-Republican Samuel Tilden-Democrat Peter Cooper-Greenback -The Republican won the Electoral Vote by 1 (185 for Hayes and 184 for Tilden)

246