LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS



LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS

Or PRESIDENTIAL PARAGRAPHS - #21

Mort Fox

Chester A. Arthur, our twenty first president, was the third man to assume the office because of the death of his running-mate. He would only serve out the balance of the one term. His conversion to a more moderate position on Reconstruction and other matters made him an unacceptable candidate to the radical Republicans.

He was born in 1829 in Fairfield, Vermont. During his childhood, his father had been employed in several Vermont and Upper New York state towns. Prior to his entry into formal learning, he received his basics from his father. Arthur entered Union College in 1845. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa in his senior year. After graduation he took a teaching position. He was for several years in various educational posts. Apparently he had had enough of teaching and decided to enter the field of law. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1854.

Arthur’s family had always been fervent abolitionists. The first case he was involved in centered on slaves being transported through New York State, where slavery was not permitted, and by state law any slave entering the state was free. His firm won the suit.

With the onset of the Civil War, as part of the New York Militia, he was appointed to the quartermaster department where he performed his duties with great efficiency. He ultimately became the inspector general of that organization. In 1863 strictly due to an administration change, a Democrat was elected governor. He was no longer in that position. Arthur returned to his law practice.

In 1859 he married Ellen Herndon in New York City. She was been born in Virginia and her close relatives still lived there when the Civil War commenced. Several served in the Confederate army. Privately she favored the South.

Arthur’s involvement in politics began when he joined the Republican Party. In 1860 he supported the nomination of Abraham Lincoln. And again in 1864 he favored Lincoln’s re-nomination and the selection of Andrew Johnson to replace Hannibal Hamlin as the vice-presidential nominee.

Before becoming the Collector of the Port of New York in 1871, he served as the counsel to the New York City tax commission. President Grant had given the very lucrative and politically influential port collector position to Arthur. When Hayes became president in 1877, he promised to clean up the patronage system. Arthur’s area required the biggest broom! Employees of the Port of NY were coerced into making political contributions.

When the dust cleared, Chester Arthur was canned and he went back to his law office.

At the Republican Convention, in 1880, the two primary factions of the party were looking for their share of the next presidential term. Former President Grant was the choice of the conservative wing, also known as the Stalwarts, but that was not to be. After several ballots, Garfield was the party choice for the presidential spot. Now, to placate the Stalwarts, Chester Arthur was the vice-presidential choice. Some of the opposition said he was born in Canada, rather than Vermont, therefore not eligible for the office. This was never proven. The Garfield-Arthur ticket won the popular vote by a slim margin. The Electoral College tabulation was more convincing, 214-155.

Taking his first elective office in March, 1881, the new vice-president was in a position to be the deciding factor in senatorial votes, as the senate was evenly divided between the two parties. This situation would not last long! On September 20th of 1881 President Garfield would die and Chester Alan Arthur would become the new chief executive.

As president, Arthur would demonstrate how to do a 180 degree turn, politically that is. Mr. Patronage (the Arthur of old) became Mr. Reform (the new Arthur). He vetoed an 1882 bill because he considered it pork barrel legislation. It passed over his veto. In 1883 he signed the Pendleton Act which created the civil service system. Boy, his old cronies were enraged. But he gathered a new group of friends. The old cronies however, would prevent him from getting the presidential nomination on his own in 1884.

Arthur retired in March of 1885 and passed away in November of 1886.

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