Chester A Arthur Became President After Which President Died
Chester Alan Arthur (1829-1886) was the 21st President of USA from the Republican Party. He was a lawyer before serving as the President. Chester Arthur was originally a member of the Republican Party favoring the Stalwart faction and a political dependent of Roscoe Conkling. |
He then rose to become the Collector of New York Port, appointed by the then President Ulysses Grant. But the next President Rutherford Hayes wanted to reform the patronage system and hence, removed Arthur from the post of the Collector.
In the next elections, James A. Garfield was nominated for the Presidency from the Republican side, and Arthur for the post of Vice-presidency. It was a close election, but eventually the Garfield-Arthur duo won in 1880. It was said President Garfield and Arthur did not share a good relation when the latter supported Roscoe Conkling, so much so that, Garfield did not even allow Arthur in his house.
But on July 2, 1881, President Garfield was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau, who retorted, "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts... Arthur is president now!” Chester Arthur was shocked more at the claim of the assassin than at the actual assassination. But the attempt at assassination was initially unsuccessful as Garfield survived the attack. But due to poor medical care along with many infections, his condition deteriorated and on September 19, President Garfield passed away.
Then Chester Arthur took office and completed Garfield’s term. He took the Oath of Office twice, once at his Lexington Avenue residence, just past midnight on September 20, administered to him by the New York Supreme Court justice John Brady. The second time was after two days once he returned to Washington, administered by the Chief Justice of the United States Morrison Waite in the Capitol, to avoid any dispute over the validity of the oath.
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