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LEMONADE LUCY

© John S. Cooper

In 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes was inaugurated as President after a close and disputed election. (See the 12 November 1999 article "The Stolen Election of 1876") His wife was nicknamed "Lemonade Lucy" and was credited with a number of White House reforms, not all of which were popular. Whether or not people liked her ideas, she was definitely one of our more interesting First Ladies.

During the Civil War, Lucy was known as "Mother Lucy" to the men of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by her husband. She made many visits to camp "to minister to the wounded, cheer the homesick and comfort the dying." After the war, she served as First Lady of Ohio during her husband's three terms as Governor. Thus, she entered the White House already well-loved by many and with experience and confidence in her role as First Lady.

Both Rutherford and Lucy Hayes were temperance people, though not prohibitionists. Their first official White House function was a dinner for two Russian Grand Dukes at which wine was served. After that, it was never served again. In addition to alcoholic beverages, profanity and tobacco were also forbidden.

Many people blamed Mrs. Hayes for the ban on liquor, and that is how she earned the nickname of Lemonade Lucy. But President Hayes took the credit for himself. "It seemed to me," Hayes explained, "that the example of excluding liquors from the White House would be wise and useful, and would be approved by good people generally. I knew it would be particularly gratifying to Mrs. Hayes to have it done." Of course, Hayes also hoped it would keep temperance people in the Republican Party and induce members of temperance organizations to vote Republican.

Not all Republicans liked the "Ohio Idea" as total abstinence in the White House came to be called. Secretary of State William Evarts did not see how he could ask foreign diplomats to attend such meals. After one official dinner, Secretary Evarts remarked dolefully: "It was a brilliant affair; the water flowed like champagne." Republican Representative Garfield, who succeeded Hayes in the White House, complained about a "state dinner at the President's wet down with coffee and cold water."

One White House steward, sympathetic to those disappointed drinkers, created a concoction known as Roman Punch. Roman Punch was a kind of Sherbet or frozen punch made of lemon juice, sugar, beaten egg whites, and a hearty dose of Saint Croix rum. At first, this dish was served during the sherbet course inside oranges. Later, it was more boldly served in glasses. One reporter said, "This phase of the dinner was named by those who enjoyed it 'the Life-Saving Station.'" It apparently went unnoticed by the President and Lucy.

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