Chester A. Arthur Quotes
Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was born in Vermont in 1829 and graduated from Union College and then went on to study law. He became involved in politics and served as the Collector of the Port of New York before being chosen as James Gar…Read More
Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was born in Vermont in 1829 and graduated from Union College and then went on to study law. He became involved in politics and served as the Collector of the Port of New York before being chosen as James Garfield’s running mate in the 1880 presidential election. After Garfield’s assassination, Arthur became President and focused on civil service reform, signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. He also worked to modernize the navy and improve relations with Latin America. Arthur’s presidency was marked by a sense of integrity and honesty, earning him the nickname “The Gentleman Boss.” He died in 1886, just one year after leaving office.Read Less
Chester A. Arthur was the 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885. He was born in Vermont in 1829 and graduated from Union College and then went on to study law. He became involved in politics and served as the Collector of the Port of New York before being chosen as James Garfield’s running mate in the 1880 presidential election. After Garfield’s assassination, Arthur became President and focused on civil service reform, signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. He also worked to modernize the navy and improve relations with Latin America. Arthur’s presidency was marked by a sense of integrity and honesty, earning him the nickname “The Gentleman Boss.” He died in 1886, just one year after leaving office.
3 Interesting Chester A. Arthur Quotes
Chester A. Arthur Career Highlights
- Civil War Service: Arthur served in the Civil War as Quartermaster General of the State of New York. He was responsible for supplying and equipping New York troops during the war.
- Political Career: After the Civil War, Arthur became involved in politics and joined the Republican Party. He held various political positions, including Collector of the Port of New York and Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee.
- Vice Presidency: In 1880, Arthur was chosen as the running mate for Republican presidential candidate James A. Garfield. They won the election, and Arthur became the 20th Vice President of the United States.
- Presidency: After only six months in office, President Garfield was assassinated, and Arthur became the 21st President of the United States. During his presidency, he focused on civil service reform and modernizing the navy.
###
Key Contributions by Chester A. Arthur
- Civil Service Reform: Arthur was a strong advocate for civil service reform and signed the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act into law. This act established a merit-based system for government jobs, ending the spoils system.
- Modernization of the Navy: Arthur recognized the need for a modern navy and pushed for the construction of new ships and the expansion of naval bases. He also signed the Naval Appropriations Act, which provided funding for the construction of new ships.
- Chinese Exclusion Act: In 1882, Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States. This was the first law to restrict immigration based on race and nationality.
###
What Sets Chester A. Arthur Apart
- Unexpected Presidency: Arthur’s presidency was unexpected, as he was chosen as Garfield’s running mate to balance the ticket and appease the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party. However, after Garfield’s assassination, Arthur proved to be a capable and effective leader.
- Civil Service Reform: Arthur’s support for civil service reform was surprising, as he had previously been a part of the corrupt spoils system. However, he recognized the need for change and worked to implement a merit-based system.
- Modernization of the Navy: Arthur’s focus on modernizing the navy was ahead of its time. He understood the importance of a strong naval presence and worked to improve the country’s defense capabilities.
###
Takeaways
- Arthur’s unexpected presidency shows the importance of being prepared for unexpected opportunities and challenges.
- His support for civil service reform highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing systemic issues within the government.
- Arthur’s focus on modernizing the navy demonstrates the importance of staying ahead of the curve in terms of national defense.
- Despite being a relatively unknown president, Arthur’s contributions to civil service reform and modernization of the navy had a lasting impact on the country.
Other People
Rapper
· USA
1975
Commissioner of Baseball
· USA
1938 - 1989
Actress
· USA
1974
Journalist
· USA
1904 - 1963