Who was the real Chester Arthur – and what was his relationship with James Garfield?
When President James Garfield was shot in July 1881, few Americans believed his vice president, Chester A. Arthur, could handle the crisis that followed. A New York Republican bureaucrat, closely linked to the patronage system and party machinery, Arthur initially inspired little public confidence.
After Garfield succumbed to his injuries later that year, Arthur unexpectedly found himself thrust into the presidency as the 21st President of the United States. Despite early skepticism, he managed to surprise the nation by demonstrating integrity and independence that contradicted his earlier reputation as a party loyalist.
“Arthur, once dismissed as a mere political insider, emerged as a capable leader following Garfield’s assassination.”
Arthur in Popular Culture
Arthur’s story quietly echoes in Death by Lightning, a 2025 Netflix drama centered on President Garfield’s assassination. The series depicts Garfield, portrayed by Michael Shannon, as the victim of Charles Guiteau’s delusional ambitions, played by Matthew Macfadyen. Nick Offerman portrays Chester Arthur as a man unexpectedly elevated to power, a steadfast Republican enforcer known for his social charm and late political awakening.
Author’s Summary: Chester A. Arthur defied his tarnished reputation by rising from distrusted insider to effective president after Garfield’s tragic death.