Waubonsee Community College

Chester Alan Arthur, Zachary Karabell

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 149-151) and index

individual biography

portraits

index present

Ages 14-18

non fiction

Chester Alan Arthur

bibliography

54373172

Zachary Karabell

The American presidents series

Chester Alan Arthur never dreamed that one day he would be president of the United States. A successful lawyer, Arthur had been forced out as the head of the Custom House of the Port of New York in 1877 in a power struggle between the two wings of the Republican Party. He became such a celebrity that he was nominated for vice president in 1880 -- despite his never having run for office before. Elected alongside James A. Garfield, Arthur found his life transformed just four months into his term, when an assassin shot and killed Garfield, catapulting Arthur into the presidency. The assassin was a deranged man who thought he deserved a federal job through the increasingly corrupt "spoils system." To the surprise of many, Arthur, a longtime beneficiary of that system, saw that the time had come for reform. His opportunity came in the winter of 1882-83, when he pushed through the Pendleton Act, which created a professional civil service and set America on a course toward greater reforms in the decades to come

A man of some importance -- The early life of Chet -- Onto the national stage -- To the White House -- "Chet Arthur? President of the United States? Good God!" -- A new house and an eventful year -- Reform -- Travels, tariffs, and travails -- The final days -- Epilogue: The gentleman President

adolescent