As you may remember from your US history class, the 1876 election was one of the most controversial ever.
Mr. Tilden won the popular vote but Mr. Hayes eventually earned enough electoral votes to become president when Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina finally reported their numbers. The delay was part of a negotiation to get Mr. Hayes to agree to remove federal troops from the South.
On this day in 1877, Mr. Hayes was sworn in as the 19th president of the US in a private ceremony. The public inauguration was held two days later because March 4th was a Sunday.
Mr. Hayes' presidency was very difficult, in part because of the aforementioned election. He was defeated for reelection in 1880.