Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886

Creation Date

1901-1909

Our 25 presidents

This postcard features black and white illustrated portraits and the dates in office of all twenty-five United States presidents through Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Creation Date

1901-1909

Our 25 presidents

This postcard features black and white illustrated portraits and the dates in office of all twenty-five United States presidents through Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Creation Date

1901-1909

The Americans choice, 1850-1904

This postcard includes portraits of American presidents who served from 1850 until 1904. The card is light green with a darker green trim and published by Moller, Kokeritz, and Company.

Collection

Creation Date

1906

President Roosevelt’s successor

E. Mont Reily examines why no vice president that succeeded to the presidency after the death of his predecessor has been able to win a presidential election. Reily suggests that President Roosevelt can make history by winning the election in 1904.

Collection

Creation Date

1901

President Roosevelt’s successor

E. Mont Reily examines why no vice president that succeeded to the presidency after the death of his predecessor has been able to win a presidential election. Reily suggests that President Roosevelt can make history by winning the election in 1904.

Collection

Creation Date

1902

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Y. Brinton

Theodore Roosevelt writes J. Y. Brinton, praising Governor Martin Grove Brumbaugh for passing an effective Child Labor Bill. He comments on the Lelong case, in which Roosevelt asserts that P. A. Lelong had “beyond all shadow of a doubt” elected to be a United States citizen. When an alien becomes a citizen in good faith, Roosevelt says, he would protect him in every way.

Collection

Creation Date

1915-06-03

Address of President Roosevelt at Indianapolis, Indiana (delivered copy)

In a military policy speech given before a group of soldiers and veterans of the American Civil War and Spanish-American War, President Roosevelt stresses the need for preparedness. He says the borders of the United States, once separated from Europe and Asia by the vast oceans, have been brought closer to potential threats by modern naval technology. He insists that the United States, now a world power, must become very engaged in international affairs, ready to back up words with action, and he affirms his belief in the Monroe Doctrine. For the army, he believes in small but strong regular National Guard units which can train up and lead a larger volunteer force in the event of war. He believes this would be impossible for the navy, however, as it takes years to build warships and train sailors on the “highly specialized work” of operating them; Roosevelt feels that the warcraft and crews prepared in time of peace would be the factor on which success would rest. He concludes with anecdotes and a message on the need for citizens and soldiers to do their duty every day and not just in moments of glory.

Collection

Creation Date

1902-09-23

Puck’s coaching parade, 1883

Eight stagecoaches stand in a procession, each jammed with passengers. Riding in the first coach, labeled “Republican Harmony Coach,” are Chester Alan Arthur, Roscoe Conkling, James Gillespie Blaine, John Alexander Logan, Ulysses S. Grant, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, John Sherman, John F. Miller(?) and an unidentified man. Riding in the second coach, labeled “Dem. Love Feast Coach” and “One Republican thrown in to please Mr. Dana,” are Charles A. Dana, Benjamin F. Butler, Edward Cooper, Rutherford B. Hayes, Franklin Edson, Samuel J. Tilden, John Kelly, and Hubert O. Thompson. Riding in the third coach, labeled “Heavy Hack,” are Cardinal John McCloskey, Robert Green Ingersoll, “Jacobs, Potter, Storrs,” Howard Crosby, Henry Ward Beecher, and Theodore Tilton. Riding in the fourth coach, labeled “Monopoly,” are William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, Jay Gould, and a box labeled Henry Clay. Riding in the fifth coach, labeled “Thespis,” are Lester Wallack, Rose Coghlan, Marie Geistinger, “T.P., J.E. Pearson, Levy,” Dion Boucicault, Edward Harrigan, and Tony Hart. The sixth coach is labeled “Homeopathy”; the seventh coach is labeled “Allopathy”; and the eighth coach is labeled “The Bruiser.” The horses pulling this last coach wear boxing gloves. Caption: [If this takes, we will have another one next year.]

Collection

Creation Date

1883-06-13

Our national dog-show

At a dog show, a variety of breeds are competing. In the upper left corner, labeled the “Judges’ Stand,” are several newspaper editors, including James Gordon Bennett, Whitelaw Reid, Murat Halstead, Charles A. Dana, Henry Watterson, and George W. Curtis. They are judging two dogs, Winfield Scott Hancock and Samuel J. Tilden. Other dogs depicted are “Sesquipedalian Sleuth Hound Evarts, Mulligan Mongrel, Rossa Runt – take care dangerous, Lap Dogs Monopoly Breed”, also Chester A. Arthur, William Mahone, Thomas Collier Platt, Roscoe Conkling, James D. Cameron, John Logan, “Pointer Bayard, Tammany Tarrier, House Dog Edson, Dachshund, Toby Dog, Poodle, Water-dog,” David Davis, U.S. Grant, “Tewksbury Ratter, Hoar-Hound, Hybrid Hayes” and at center, “Puck’s entry Cleveland [and] S. Low.”

Collection

Creation Date

1883-05-09

The true meaning of Republican harmony

Several Republicans stand in a temple, with a sacrificial lamb labeled “Civil Service Reform” at the base of a statue labeled “Patronage” with a trident labeled “Spoils.” Among them are Chester Alan Arthur, James Gillespie Blaine, Whitelaw Reid, Ulysses S. Grant, John Logan, William Henry Robertson, J. D. Cameron, George William Curtis, Carl Schurz, George Frisbie Hoar, John Sherman, Roscoe Conkling, and William Mahone. At the far end of the temple gallery is a statue of George M. Robeson as “Neptune.” Caption: The members of the Roman House of Tarquin, having been driven from power by the people, called together their adherents, and swore an oath of harmony over the body of a victim sacrificed for the purpose. They then undertook to get back to Rome, and History records that they Got Left.

Collection

Creation Date

1883-04-11

The U.S. hotel badly needs a “bouncer”

In the lobby of the “U.S. Hotel,” Uncle Sam and Puck sit behind the front desk on the left. At center is Chester Alan Arthur as the “U.S. Hotel Presidential Bouncer” who is clearing the lobby of agitators. Among them are Patrick “Egan,” Johann “Most,” Patrick Joseph “Sheridan,” Justus “Schwab,” and “O’Donovan Rossa,” with Charles “Parnell” standing just outside the door looking in. A notice on the wall states “U.S. Hotel – Rules and Regulations – Guests are Required to Preserve Order – No Bomb-Throwing; No Incendiary Talk; No Communism; No Fenianism.”

Collection

Creation Date

1883-03-28

Rip Van Winkle’s return

Outside a building labeled “Washington Inn” with an image of the U.S. Capitol on the sign, a large group of Republican legislators, politicians, and others are laughing at an old man wearing tattered clothing labeled “Democracy.” He looks dazed, as though he has just wandered in from the past; his walking stick is dated “1861.” Two dogs labeled “N.Y. Tribune” and “N.Y. Times” sniff at his heels. Among those present are George M. Robeson, Ulysses S. Grant, John Logan, James Gillespie Blaine, Chester Alan Arthur (dressed as a woman, serving food and drinks), Charles J. Folger, George Frisbie Hoar, Joseph Warren Keifer, Horace F. Page, William Mahone (doing a hand-stand), J. D. Cameron, Roscoe Conkling, John Sherman, George F. Edmunds, John P. Jones, and Thomas Collier Platt.

Collection

Creation Date

1883-03-14

Bottom’s dream

Puck’s stereotypical Irishman labeled “Democracy” appears in the role of “Bottom” from Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with Puck holding the head of an ass above him. He is holding a paper that states “Free Protection for Revenue Only. Free Revenue Reform for Protection Only. To the Civil Service Reformers belong the Spoils!!!” A host of fairies, insects, and minions of the night are gathered around him, including Theodore Roosevelt as a fairy standing on a snail labeled “N. Y. City Reform,” John Logan as a mushroom, John Kelly as a spider on a web labeled “N. Y.,” William Evarts as a bird with a long beak, unidentified man as a frog, James Blaine and George Robeson as owls, David Davis, Samuel J. Tilden as a grasshopper, Roscoe Conkling as a bird, Whitelaw Reid labeled “3 cts” and another man labeled “2 cts” as moths, and a diminutive Chester A. Arthur peering from behind Bottom’s feet. Jay Gould appears as a snake in the bushes. Among the fairies are “Randall, Carlisle, Dana, Cleveland, Cox,” and Henry Watterson. Uncle Sam and Columbia observe from behind a tree. Includes Bottom’s lines “I have had a dream – past the wit of men to say what dream it was. … But man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had” from the play.

Collection

Creation Date

1884-02-20

The good Samaritan

Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Grover Cleveland are pilgrims on a journey through a rugged Middle Eastern landscape. Leading the way is Hayes, holding a paper that states “Patronage to Reward – The Returning Board” and carrying a canteen of “Cold Water.” Behind Hayes is Arthur who is looking back at Cleveland, with a donkey, who has stopped to help a man labeled “Civil Service” who has fainted from lack of water.

Collection

Creation Date

1885-03-18

Cleveland’s entry into Washington – March 4th. 1885

Grover Cleveland rides the Democratic donkey past the “Republican R. R. R. Hotel” on the way to his inauguration. He is surrounded by a host of characters that includes many political figures and newspaper editors, including Joseph F. Keppler with his diminutive character Puck. Among those depicted are: Roscoe Conkling, George Edmunds, Augustus Garland, “Hampton,” “William H. Barnum,” L. Q. C. Lamar, “Grace,” “Jones,” Joseph Pulitzer, James G. Bennett, Henry B. Ward, Samuel J. Randall, Thomas Hendricks, Abram S. Hewitt, U. S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, “McDonas,” Daniel Manning, George W. Curtis, Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel J. Tilden, Thomas F. Bayard (carrying a flag that states “Public Office is a Public Trust. G. Cleveland”), Joseph Medill, William C. Endicott, John Logan, James G. Blaine, Carl Schurz, William F. Vilas, Cox, Winfield Scott Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Watterson, and Hermann “Raster.” Also shown is Puck’s Independent Party figure and papers labeled “Compliments of C. A. Dana.”

Collection

Creation Date

1885-03-04

A way out of President Arthur’s dilemma

Ulysses S. Grant recommends to President Chester A. Arthur some “friends” of his as political appointees. All the men shown were involved in scandals during Grant’s administration. Caption: General Grant “Don’t be troubled if a few fellows do decline. Here are some friends of mine who never refuse office.”

Collection

Creation Date

1881-11-02

A presidential conjuror

President Arthur appears as a magician on a stage, pulling cards out of a hat and tossing them into the audience. The cards are labeled “Secretary of Navy, Foreign Minister, Interior, Consulate, Collectorship, Soft Soap, Minister to Turkey, Quashed Endictment, Secretary of War, Protection, Postmaster, Promises, Gratitude, [and] Reciprocity.” On the stage are other magic devices, a “Great Machine Trick” showing cards and labeled “New Political Deal Trick,” a wheel labeled “Stalwartism Neutrality Halfbreedism,” a bottle labeled “Ever-lasting Patronage Bottle,” a cone labeled “Great Veto Extinguish Trick,” and a drum labeled “Last Grand Trick Resignation.” Among those in the audience are Carl Schurz, John A. Logan, Thomas De Witt Talmage, David Davis, Joseph W. Keifer, John P. Jones, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas J. Brady, William M. Evarts, Benjamin F. Butler, and Samuel J. Kirkwood. Caption: What Mr. Arthur must be to satisfy all the politicians.

Collection

Creation Date

1881-10-12

A sop to Cerberus

Print shows Chester Alan Arthur offering a “Bill Excluding Chinese for 10 Years,” in the shape of a Chinese man’s face, to a three-headed Cerberus labeled “Western Vote” with the heads labeled “Demagogue, Hoodlum, [and] Irish.” At Arthur’s feet is a basket labeled “Sops for Everybody,” and he holds a rope behind his back labeled “2nd Term Aspirations.” The Cerberus is guarding the narrow path through the forest to the White House labeled “1884,” which shines in the distance.

Collection

Creation Date

1882-05-17

The national dime-museum – will be run during the presidential campaign

A gallery of presidential candidates includes, clockwise, from bottom left: John Kelly as a card-playing pig, Chester A. Arthur as “The Snake Charmer” charming a snake labeled “Stalwart Vote” with a horn labeled “Patronage,” Benjamin F. Butler as “What is it?,” “Siamese Twins Keifer [and] Robeson,” John A. Logan as the “Wild Zulu on the Warpath,” “Carlisle, Morrison, [and] Hewitt” as a “Wax Group of Three Heroes Who Perished in an Attempt to Reach the Pole of Tariff Reform,” “‘Richelieu’ Robinson” as a “Fire Eater,” Charles A. “Dana” as a “Screech Parrot,” a cage containing an “Un-Happy Family – N.Y. Board of Aldermen,” an “Ancient Mummy Exhumed Lately” labeled “1876 Fraud Issue – S. J. T.,” John “Sherman” as “The Man in the Bloody Shirt,” Henry Watterson as a buffalo, Whitelaw Reid as a giraffe, and Samuel J. Randall(?) as “The Democratic White Elephant,” William “Evarts” as the thin man, Roscoe Conkling as the bearded lady, David “Davis” as the Fat Lady, Robert Todd “Lincoln” and George F. “Edmunds” as “The Two Giants,” James G. Blaine as the tattooed man, T. C. “Platt” and William “Mahone” as Tom Thumb and his bride, and Samuel S. “Cox” as a dancing poodle. In the center is a stuffed tiger labeled “Tammany” on a pedestal labeled “Killed by Roosevelt.”

Collection