Chester Arthur was the least likely person ever to become President of the United States. Arthur’s elevation to the nation’s top political position was barely fathomable for someone who had not only never held elective office prior to his ascension as James Garfield’s Vice President, but also hailed from a segment of the political world that was largely held with disdain by an increasing segment of the American electorate. Arthur was a spoilsman, part of a political contrivance that existed not to promote particular policies or ideology but rather singularly focused on attaining power. Arthur was a servant to his political boss whose expertise was pushing the system to its extreme with the singular goal of uniting the party, raising funds, getting out the vote with aggression and discipline, and living off the spoils of victory until the next election cycle could begin. Yet this machine system in which he thrived rewarded Arthur with what was expected by all to be an insignificant spoil as the nation’s irrelevant VP. That notion elicited no concern until an assassin’s bullet thrust Chester Arthur from one heartbeat away from the presidency into the singular position of American political leadership. It was an occurrence that struck fear into the minds of Americans across the landscape. But no one was more terrified than the man himself, never imagining he would be able to head a nation.
 
But then something unexpected happened. As John O’Brien, one of Arthur’s longtime machine colleagues, said at the time, “He isn’t ‘Chet’ Arthur anymore – he’s the president and must demonstrate that he’s nobody’s servant.” And to the surprise of many, President Arthur did just that. He turned away from his longtime boss, Roscoe Conkling, and his so-called Stalwart followers and, most remarkably, became a champion of civil service reform. He drew the enmity of an entire element of the American political class that he had loyally served for most of his adult life as his mindset shifted once placed into the presidential chair. He selflessly became an advocate for change against a corrupt system that had served him well but was hurting his nation. Chester Arthur was not a great president. But in this one critical area, his story merits attention and commendation for a man who was willing to change just when the country needed it most, in the wake of an assassination and a growing sense of distrust in a system that appeared self-centered and rigged to stay that way. At the moment of truth, “Chet” Arthur ceased to exist. President Arthur stepped forward, providing the necessary leadership to alter the trajectory of American politics. From spoilsman to reformer, it’s the tale of a remarkable turnaround for the “Gentleman Boss” of New York, Chester Arthur.