Chester A. Arthur: The President Nobody Remembers

Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States, was not exactly a household name during his time in office. In fact, he is probably one of the most forgotten presidents in American history. But who was this guy who managed to slip under the radar of American memory?

Born in Vermont in 1829, Arthur grew up to be quite the stylish gentleman. He was known for his perfectly groomed sideburns and his extravagant collection of hats. But besides his impeccable sense of fashion, Arthur was also a successful lawyer and a machine politician in the Republican Party.

Arthur became famous (well, famous-ish) when he was picked as Vice-President in 1880 by James A. Garfield, who was running for President. Garfield won the election and Arthur became the Vice-President guy in charge of… not much, really. But everything changed when Garfield was assassinated in 1881 and Arthur was suddenly catapulted into the presidency.

Arthur had a lot to prove, and he did so by passing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which was a big deal at the time. The new law required government jobs to be filled based on merit rather than political connections, effectively taking power away from the political machines that had dominated American politics up to that point.

Wait, this is supposed to be a humorous article, right? Let’s see…

Ah, yes. Chester A. Arthur was also known for his love of fancy pants (not a euphemism). Legend has it that he owned over 80 pairs of pants and would change them several times a day. And let’s not forget his favorite hobby: rearranging the furniture in the White House. Apparently, Arthur would move chairs, desks, and even pianos around in order to achieve the perfect Feng Shui.

But even with his impressive fashion sense, love of fancy pants, and furniture rearrangement skills, Chester A. Arthur just couldn’t catch a break. He had health problems, political enemies, and a general inability to connect with the American people. His presidency was a forgettable one, overshadowed by the more memorable and dynastic presidencies of his predecessors and successors.

In the end, Chester A. Arthur may not go down in history as one of the greatest Presidents of the United States, but at least he’ll always be remembered for his impeccable sideburns and love of fancy pants.