Who was the real Chester Arthur – and what was his relationship with James Garfield?

Who Was the Real Chester Arthur – And What Was His Relationship with James Garfield?

When President James Garfield was assassinated in 1881, his vice president, Chester A. Arthur, unexpectedly ascended to the presidency. His rise came under a cloud of public doubt and political suspicion, as many saw him as a product of New York’s entrenched patronage system.

Arthur had built his career within the Republican Party’s machine politics, which led critics to dismiss him as a mere bureaucrat. Yet, when Garfield was shot in July 1881 and later succumbed to his wounds, Arthur’s measured leadership as the 21st President of the United States surprised a nation that had doubted him.

Arthur’s Public Image and Unexpected Transformation

Initially viewed as a party insider associated with corruption, Arthur’s conduct in office began to reshape that perception. His calm handling of national affairs and quiet independence allowed him to step out from Garfield’s shadow and redefine his legacy.

Modern Depiction in Popular Culture

The story of Chester Arthur resurfaces in Netflix’s 2025 historical drama Death by Lightning. The series portrays the chaotic political climate surrounding Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau, and Arthur’s reluctant rise amid turmoil.

In Death by Lightning, Chester Arthur, played by Nick Offerman, is depicted as “a low man pushed into high office,” a loyal Republican enforcer with a reputation for hard living.

This dramatic retelling highlights the tension between Arthur’s political identity and the unexpected moral authority he later embodied as president.

Author’s Summary

Arthur’s unlikely journey from distrusted party agent to respectable leader reveals how crisis and character can redefine public legacy in American politics.

HistoryExtra — 2025-11-07