02192cam a2200301 4500 279172332 TxAuBib 20161205120000.0 161205t19871934||||||||||||||||||||und|u TxAuBib Howe, George F, 1901-1988, (George Frederick.) Chester A. Arthur : a quarter-century of machine politics / by George Frederick Howe. Collector's ed. Norwalk, Conn. : Easton Press, 1987. [©1934] xi, 307 p. : port. ; 25 cm. library of the presidents, The Bound in genuine leather. Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-295) and index. As can be expected for an obscure one term President the books pertaining to Chester A. Arthur, the nation's 21st President, are limited. This now out of print volume by Howe is a straightforward read and does a good job at fairly presenting the life of Chester Arthur. There is perhaps no President that made as dramatic a shift as Chester Arthur. An operative of the New York machine under Roscoe Conkling, Arthur was a poster boy for the corrupt system of patronage in the 19th century and was basically added to "balance" James Garfield on the ticket (both geographically and politically) who was a strong proponent of civil service reform. Following Garfield's assassination Arthur assumed the Presidency and took a much more centrist approach than would have been expected given his past, and much to the dismay of the Conkling machine. While not the most engaging of biographies this 50 year old book does not read as dated as one might expect. It is clearly written and of an appropriate length to adequately provide the reader with all they are likely to care to know about Chester A. Arthur. 20161205. Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886. Presidents United States Biography. Politics and government United States. United States Politics and government 1881-1885. The library of the presidents. TXDRI