He was a practicing lawyer for 35 years and worked as Assistant Attorney General in Illinois from 1928 to 1933, resigning his state position upon being elected to the office of the National Commander of The American Legion.

[3] This campaign was not solely focused on communism, fascism was also considered a threat to the American way of life, thus the Legion advocated the removal of both from the classroom.

[3] Hayes spent much of his time in Washington, DC lobbying for the restoration of benefits to disabled veterans that had been cut due to the Great Depression.

[5] When he was not campaigning in the Capitol he traveled the nation, taking the message to as many Americans as possible to increase the lobbying pressure for the restoration of disabled veterans compensation.

141 which restored disability compensation rates to pre-Depression levels and expanded services for veterans despite opposition from the Roosevelt Administration.

[2] He entered a Chicago hospital 21 March 1955 for a bladder operation and was believed to be recovering when he suffered a heart attack and died.