Chester Alan Arthur (The American Presidents, #21) in Challenges

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Chester Alan Arthur (The American Presidents, #21)

Zachary Karabell,

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Editor)

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Jan 17, 2016 Scott Cox rated it liked it

Shelves: u-s-presidents, biography, history, non-fiction

Biographaer Zachary Karabell remarks that "Chester Alan Arthur may have been the most reluctant president to ever occupy the White House. At no point in his life did he want to be president . . . he simply didn't want the job" (p.140). So how did Arthur become the 21st president of the United States? He was catapulted into office after James Garfield was assassinated in 1881. Chester Arthur was the son of a Baptist minister who took a New York parish when Chester was ten years old. Arthur rose t Biographaer Zachary Karabell remarks that "Chester Alan Arthur may have been the most reluctant president to ever occupy the White House. At no point in his life did he want to be president . . . he simply didn't want the job" (p.140). So how did Arthur become the 21st president of the United States? He was catapulted into office after James Garfield was assassinated in 1881. Chester Arthur was the son of a Baptist minister who took a New York parish when Chester was ten years old. Arthur rose to prominence under New York City boss Roscoe Conkling. He landed the lucrative job of collector of the customhouse of the port of New York, a position which at the time accounted for a third of the government's revenues. As a "Stalwart" (someone who supported Grant's presidency and the patronage system), Arthur was selected as Garfield's vice presidential running mate to help balance the Republican ticket. Even though Arthur had never run for public office, he accepted the vice president nomination out of a sense of duty and honor. Of course Arthur could not predict that Garfield would soon be assassinated by crazed office-seeker, Charles Guiteau. Though not desirous of the presidency, Arthur conducted his three years in the office with a surprising lack of rancor and factionalism. He can take credit for supporting and signing into law the Pendleton Bill of 1883 which was the most radical civil service reform act of its time. The act changed how civil servants were selected: no longer by political spoils but instead by a candidate's capability to do the job. Arthur was not seriously considered for reelection, perhaps because of a lack of a strong political base, and he died shortly after leaving office from Bright's Disease (a kidney disorder). I rated this biography 3 stars because I felt that there was much more regarding Arthur's life and political times which could/should have been explored, and wasn't. Perhaps the author was limited by the American Presidents Series format, this work being a mere 143 pages in length. ...more

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May 16, 2024 Mark Singer rated it it was amazing

I have been reading "The American Presidents" series of books as I sequentially make my way through reading at least 2 biographies of each president.

I had read the Reeves and Greenberger Arthur biographies also. Both very good. But this book, aside from being a good summary, provided what I thought was excellent context.

I have been on this presidential reading jog for 4 years. I am a novice student of American history. I find many of the biographies assume too much and don't always provide the ...more

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Mar 01, 2023 Christi rated it liked it

Shelves: biography, history, politics

This was a great little survey of Arthur's life and time as president, as all the American Presidents series are. Nice and short. ...more

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Mar 24, 2023 Gary Schantz rated it really liked it

I have found that the books from the APS to be a solid piece of work on hitting the necessary marks in a short telling of a president's life. This book was no different.

I learned a lot about Chester Arthur's life and presidency. ...more

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