W.H.F. Lee (PS-1)

William Henry Fitzhugh Lee (May 31, 1837 – October 15, 1911), known as Rooney Lee or W.H.F. Lee, was the 7th President of the Confederate States of America. Lee was the second son of former President Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Randolph Custis and brother of former  Secretary of State Custis Lee.

Before being elected President in 1897, Lee served as a Governor, Senator and Representative from Virginia.

As President, Lee oversaw the annexations of Cuba and Puerto Rico and despite taking office during the midst of a recession, Lee upheld the gold standard; kept the railroads moving, and fought to keep tariffs low; all of which kept the country out of a depression. Lee's admirers praised him for his honesty, independence, integrity, and commitment to the principles of classical liberalism, and especially his involvement in persuading the Confederate Congress to pass the Eight Amendment (outlawing slavery) while his critics accused him of being an uncompromising and out-of-touch elitist. Although some of his economic and social policies were received with mixed reviews by contemporaries, his ability to keep the country out of a depression and his commitment to human rights are praised by modern historians. Most scholars rank Lee as a great or near great President.