The Jefferson Davis's Citizenship Restoration Story

It all began with a promise to my grandmother. A pinky swear, really. But by 1977, that promise had carried me through more than a decade of intense research, lobbying, and prayer—and landed me on the steps of the United States Capitol.

The final two years of the journey to restore Jefferson Davis’s U.S. citizenship were a whirlwind of anticipation, action, and—at last—achievement.

It started on...

There are moments in life when the weight of history and the hope for justice collide in the most unexpected places. For me, one of those moments came as I sat across from Senator Strom Thurmond—one of the most senior and powerful members of the U.S. Senate—determined to fulfill a promise made to my grandmother: to restore the citizenship of our ancestor, Jefferson Davis.

Thanks to a personal int...

In the mid-1970s, I was juggling a career, raising a young family, and carrying a promise that weighed heavily on my shoulders: to restore the U.S. citizenship of my great-great-grandfather, Jefferson Davis. It wasn’t just a mission passed down from my grandmother—it was a personal calling. And slowly, piece by piece, the path began to open.

Some of the most pivotal steps came not through grand g...

Copy of Dr. Howard Haller’s Political Science Degree

The story I’m about to share is one that changed my life—and nudged a small piece of American history in a new direction.

It started with a pinky swear

Not the kind you make and forget. This was a solemn promise made to my grandmother, Lucy White Hayes Young—granddaughter of Jefferson Davis—on her deathbed. With a piercing look and unwavering...

Not every love story ends the way we wish it would.

Some begin with the brightest hope… and end in heartbreak we can still feel generations later.

As the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, I, Dr. Howard Edward Haller, grew up hearing the personal, deeply human stories that often get left out of textbooks. Stories told to me by my Granny Lucy—his great-granddaughter—who knew these weren’t j...

My granny, the little girl sitting on her grandfather's (President Jefferson Davis) knee

In the grand sweep of American history, personal stories often get buried beneath headlines of war and politics. But for me, those deeply personal family stories have always been at the heart of what history truly is.

I’m Dr. Howard Edward Haller—Jefferson Davis’s great-great-grandson—and I want to share one...

Why I Fought to Restore My Great-Great-Grandfather’s Citizenship

By Dr. Howard Edward Haller

As I write these words, I feel the weight of history resting on my shoulders.

Not just as an author…
Not just as a historian…
But as the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.

This story isn’t just about politics or controversy—it’s a...

As the great‑great grandson of President Jefferson Davis, Dr. Howard Edward Haller spent over a decade leading the extraordinary effort to restore Davis’s full U.S. citizenship.

Why It Matched His Calling
Dr. Haller believed deeply in honoring his ancestor’s legacy—not granting forgiveness, but restoring recognition where it had been denied. His grandmother entrusted him with the mission, and he e...

^{Image Used by Permission of the Beauvoir Museum}

Jefferson Davis is one of the most misunderstood figures in American history. These five surprising facts may challenge what you thought you knew.

Jefferson Davis is a name most Americans recognize, but few truly understand. His story is more than just a footnote in Civil War history—it's layered, surprising, and often misunderstood. Here are fiv...

In the annals of the United States Senate, few moments hold as much drama as the events of January 21, 1861. The Capitol was abuzz from the break of dawn on that chilly winter morning, as spectators queued up in anticipation. Latecomers found themselves scrambling for a spot in the already packed cloakrooms and lobby adjacent to the Senate Chamber. The tension was palpable, fueled by the recent se...

As the great-great-grandson of President Jefferson Davis, a man whose life was deeply entwined with one of America's most turbulent eras - the Civil War, I felt a strong connection to this historical legacy. This bond was nurtured by my grandmother, Lucy White Hayes Young, Jefferson Davis' granddaughter. Her annual visits were the highlight of my childhood, a time when history came to life through...