Considering he was never supposed to be president (Garfield assassination).  I think Arthur was ok.   He did have quite a few accomplishments during his short term in office.  I liked him because he knew how to live!  He made the most of presidential living.  Hence his name Elegant Arthur.  One of the most classy, yet, un popular presidents.

Zzzzz! But then, really what did we expect. This was the era of growth and expansion.

I believe Arthur is one of our most underrated presidents; he brought a surprising integrity and elegance to the presidency, surprising because he himself was formerly shady. A good president!

Considering that he had a poor reputation before he entered the White House,he did a decent job by reforming civil service.Surprised a lot of folks with his ability.

Arthur established the federal Civil Service which took thousands of federal jobs out of the patronage system so that their occupants would not be thrown out whenever a new president came into power. He deserves credit for starting the process of taking politics out of the day-to-day operations of the Federal government. Where does he rank among the forty-two presidents? Probably twenty or twenty-one.

Oh, Chester Ass Arthur, he gets a one.

It's my understanding that there were two great things about Arthur: (1) when he became president, he surprised his cronies by running an honest and efficient administration; (2) not long before re-election, he realized he had a fatal disease and would not live long, but kept still about it and quietly decided not to run again. His grace and dignity surprised a lot of people, after having had a shady past.

Chester Arthur eh? Who cares?

Just one more fat, bearded fat-cat that I get confused w/ Grover Cleveland.

If you wanted a fifth face on Mt. Rushmore, this would have to be it. He didn't redefine America, but he did have incredibly large mutton chops.

If it wasn't for him, there'd be no Panama Canal.

Chester Arthur assumed the Presidency under a very dark cloud after the assassination of President James Garfield. Most people, including his closest friends, expected that Arthur would not be able to do the job. Turns out they were wrong. President Garfield had been assassinated by a disgrutled civil service worker. The civil service was based on the patronage system at the time; whenever a new administration would take office, most government employees were fired, being that they were political appointees. All the Presidents before this had tolerated this spoils system. Indeed Arthur himself was a product of this system. He became Vice President in no small part because he was such a strong proponent of the spoils system. He always maintained a solid record of honesty throughout his career. During his tenure as Collector of the Port of New York, a position used the line the pockets of loyal party men, Arthur administered it honestly and efficiently. Ironically enough, Arthur would go on to become best known for overhauling this corrupt system--he cut off the hand that fed his rise to political prominence. His justice department also cracked down on corruption in Post Office, which was staffed by many important people from his own political party. So at least he was honest, and that's what he should be remembered for most of all. On the foreign policy front, he improved relations with Asia, specifically China. He vetoed the China Exclusionary Act that would have banned immigration from that country; this would have violated our treaties with the Chinese. He tried to lower tariffs and he began construction of an all steel navy. He made us stronger on the international front. Unfortunately, Arthur only served three years, he was a very sick man and he died only a year after he left the Presidency Arthur on the balance should be rated higher by historians; he had guts and showed leadership by cracking down on corruption in government as a whole. Far more visionary than most give him credit for.

I list Chester A. Arthur as a fair president simply because he ran as honest of an administration as he possibly could. This says a lot considering the background history of his political career. He did not allow himself to be "bought", and he granted few political favors.

When James Garfield was assassinated in 1881, Chester Arthur assumed office assuring the American people that nobody controlled him as President. He continued the policies of Rutherford Hayes in order to ensure Civil Service Reform, and due to his support of the buildup of a large navy made up of steam-powered steel cruisers. [1. Crisis Dealings/Leadership: **** out of *****] As President, Arthur faced no serious crises. He did alienate many members of his own party and destroy his relations with the Republican-controlled Congress with his activism for a reduction of tariffs. He called for a 25% reduction in tariff rates, and the Congress, in a slap in the face to Arthur, reduced tariff rates by 2%. While he won no battle in lowering the tariffs, his persistance set the political scene for the next two decades. He also dealt wisely with the Civil Service debates arousing in the country by signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which established a bipartisan commission to prepare and administer competitive examinations for government offices. His unpopular standings on these two major issues proved that Arthur was no party hack, but rather a free thinking President. [2. Diplomatic/Foreign Relations: *** out of ***** Stars] Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which banned all Chinese Immigration for the next ten years in an attempt to control the American population. Arthur is best known as the "father of the steel Navy" due to his support of the construction of steam-powered steel cruisers, steel rams and steel-clad gun boats. He also move decisively to curb corruption and incompetency in the naval shipyards. Interests in the construction of a canal considered, and an agreement was reached with Nicaragua ceding a stretch of land to the U.S. for the construction of the canal. The treaty, however was rejected by Congress because it breached a treaty signed with Great Britain in 1850. [3. Economic Management: *** out of ***** Stars]. The country did see economic prosperity during Arthur's term in office. As I mentioned before, he supported significant reduction in tariff rates to benefit middle class families. He thought that surpluses should be returned to the people rather than spent on pork-laiden government expenditures. However, he contradicts himself somewhat with his significant investment and usage of that surplus to renevate the White House. Indeed a noble cause which is perhaps his most significant contribution as President, but a contradiction of his own financial beliefs. He spent over $2 Million dollars on White House Renevations. However, his willingness to fight for the middle class farmers and workers across America is admirable. [4. Vision For the Country/Legacy: **** out of ***** Stars]. Arthur's greatest legacy is perhaps his supporting of a large steel-powered Navy which prepared America for the next century. His advocacy of lower tariffs and civil service reform showed him to be a realistic thinker and a President who operated more on the interests of the people than his own political party. [5. Popularity/Morality: **** out of ***** Stars]. He was popular with the people throughout most of his term for his support of Civil Service Reform and lower tariffs. He was never really a devoted father, but he did love his son and daughter dearly, but was often distracted by his job. He had the sympathies of the people because of the death of his wife in 1880. [Final Score: 3.6- **** out of ***** Stars]. In the final analysis, President Arthur, like his predacessor proved himself to be a competent President who did not make decisions soley based on his political associations. Arthur found himself party-less in the Election of 1884, but he had no real desire to seek re-election due to his ailing health which he had kept well-hidden from the country during his Presidency. Arthur was indeed an important transitional figure in the post-Reconstruction era and continued to lead the United States to its eventual status as a world power.

only the best ever!

Gotta give props to a guy whose first name is Chester. If you've ever seen a portrait of Chet, he's got some SERIOUS sideburns. As our illustrious 21st president, Arthur did much to abrogate the "spoils system" and give political jobs to people based upon merit. Gotta love that. Sorta like Cleveland in that respect. There are rumors that maintain Chet was actually born in Canada, although official records say he was born in Fairfield, Vermont. Chester Arthur---a guy with two first names. I think I'll try to convince my wife to name our firstborn Chester. GIVE IT UP FOR THE CHETMEISTER!!!! WHOO!!!!!

This guy needs to be at the bottom and again, BigJJ makes me laugh.

A Tammany Hall machine politician whose primary legacy is that he liked to take bribes. A one-term president who was never elected but became president by mistake after James Garfield got shot. Move this guy to the bottom of the pile. Chester A Arthur is a loser!

Chester adored pink shawls.