Video: ‘New York, New York – Chester A. Arthur Inauguration and Death Location (2020)’

(Tuesday, September 20, 1881, 2:15 a.m. local time; during the Assassination of James A. Garfield and the inauguration of Chester A. Arthur) — U.S. Vice President Chester A. Arthur, 51, took the oath of office (as administered by Judge John R. Brady of the New York Supreme Court) early this morning as the 21st President of the United States at Arthur’s private apartment at 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City.

Arthur succeeded to presidency some four hours after the death of President James A. Garfield, who had died late Sept. 19, 1881, from gunshot wounds received July 2, 1881.

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.

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 Thursday, September 22, 1881, President Arthur would repeat the oath before Chief Justice Morrison Waite at the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., in a ceremony attended by former presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes.