Republican; Hayes began his term by dismantling Reconstruction because of the terms agreed in the Compromise of 1877. The Bland Alison act allowed the government to resume minting silver coins, which had been halted 5 years earlier. He also implemented civil service reforms that focused on ending patronage in favor of appointing civil servants based on merit.
Republican; Due to being assassinated in office, Garfield did not have any noteworthy policies. Garfield spent most of his time assembling the cabinet and making other appointments, which had to appease both the Stalwarts and the Half Breeds. After four months of "political wrangling", Garfield was ready to take action, but he was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, and died on Septermber 19, 1881.
Republican; Chester Arthur had risen to power through machine politics, and surprised Americans by signing the Pendleton Civil Service Act that mandated that government jobs are to be distributed by merit and not political connections. Congress overrode his veto of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted the immigration of the Chinese into the U.S.
Democrat; Once in office, he continued the policies of his predecessor. He tried to reduce government spending and utilized the veto more than any other president at that point. He was a noninterventionist in foreign policy and fought to have tariffs lowered.
Republican; The lingering effects of economic depression led to calls for a more expansive federal legislation. The first step to prohibit industrial trusts was the Sherman Antitrust Act, the use of silver coinage and increased tariffs led the American economy closer to the Panic of 1893.
Democrat; Cleveland's second term began with the Panic of 1893, and was immediately thrown into action. He signs the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, which increased the amount of silver the government had to purchase. The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Bill made an income tax of 2% on all personal income above $4,000.