Inauguration of Chester A. Arthur
The inauguration of Chester A. Arthur as the 21st President of the United States was held on Tuesday, September 20, 1881, at his private home in New York City, New York,[1] following the death of President James A. Garfield the previous evening. The inauguration marked the commencement of Chester A. Arthur's only term (a partial term of 3 years, 165 days) as President. This was the fourth non-scheduled, extraordinary inauguration to ever take place, the last in the 19th century, and was the first to take place in New York City since George Washington's first inauguration in 1789. On Thursday, September 22, 1881, President Arthur repeated the oath before Chief Justice Morrison Waite at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
 Arthur being administered the oath of office | |
| Date | September 20, 1881 September 22, 1881 |
|---|---|
| Location | 123 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York (September 20) United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. (September 22) |
| Participants | Chester A. Arthur 21st President of the United States — Assuming office John R. Brady Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York — Administering oath (September 20) Morrison Waite Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath (September 22) |
← 1881 1885 → | |
Garfield shot
On July 2, 1881, President Garfield was shot in the back by Charles J. Guiteau, who shouted: "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts ... Arthur is president now!" Arthur, who knew nothing of this in advance, was mortified.[2]
Eighty-day crisis
Vice President Arthur was cautious; he knew that there were a great number of people who thought that he had something to do with the attempted murder of the President, and didn't want anything to do with succession until it was actually necessary; in fact, he went into seclusion, largely confining himself to his house in New York City and avoiding public appearances. Thus, for two months and 18 days, the country drifted, leaderless, hanging on every reported detail of Garfield's health without much attention to the business of government. On September 19, 1881, Garfield died and Arthur succeeded to the Presidency.[3]
Assumption of office
Arthur was at home near midnight on the night of September 19, 1881, with Police Commissioner Stephen B. French, District Attorney Daniel G. Rollins, and attorney Elihu Root, when he learned in a telegram from members of Garfield's cabinet that Garfield had died. The cabinet members wired President Arthur their advice that he should "take the oath of office as president of the United States without delay."
It was after midnight when Arthur and his guests dispatched messengers to locate a judge who could administer the presidential oath. The first jurist who could be located in the early morning hours of September 20 was John R. Brady, a Justice of the New York Supreme Court. At about 2 A.M. Brady administered the oath of office to Arthur in Arthur's private apartment at 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City. After traveling to Washington, D.C., Arthur was inaugurated again two days later by Chief Justice Morrison Waite in a ceremony attended by former presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes.[4]
References
- Roberts, Sam (December 7, 2014). "Where a President Took the Oath, Indifference May Become Official". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- Barzman, Sol (1974). Madmen and geniuses: The vice-presidents of the United States (1st ed.). Follett. ISBN 978-0-695-80487-9.
- Burns, Roger (2000). Almost History: Close Calls, Plan B's, and Twists of Fate in America's Past (1st ed.). Hyperion. ISBN 978-0-7868-6663-2.
- "The Swearing In of Chester A. Arthur, September 20, 1881". United States Senate. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
