Bison

Quiet, principled, and steadfast — a pragmatic American institution.

Rutherford B. Hayes was known for his dogged integrity and quiet determination, pushing for civil service reform and ending Reconstruction without seeking the spotlight or personal glory. He was a one-term president by choice, having pledged not to seek re-election, reflecting a selfless, duty-bound pragmatism rather than political ambition. Like the bison, he was a powerful, conservative presence who went about his work with immense reliability and a stubborn dedication to principle, even when unpopular.