"MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS?"

PRESIDENT GARFIELD HIT TWICE BY ASSASSIN'S BULLETS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot in the back while walking through the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station here in the Nation's Capital en route to New Jersey for a summer vacation on the seashore.

The President was shot by Charles J. Guiteau twice, once in the shoulder and once in the back.  As he was taken into custody by police officer Patrick Kearney, Guiteau said...

"I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts!  Arthur is president now!"

According to Dr. Howard Markel, the first bullet merely grazed the President's arm but the second passed through the spine lodging in the abdomen.

The President cried out...

"My God, what is this?" 

Mr. Garfield died of complications from his wounds on September 19, 1881 in Elberon, New Jersey.  He was 49 years of age.  Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the new POTUS.

Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.

SOURCE

"The dirty, painful death of President James A. Garfield," by Dr. Howard Markel, September 16, 2016, www.pbs.org/

 

 

President Garfield is Shot

 by A. Berghaus & C. Upham

Frank Leslie's Illustrated

July 16 1881

 

THE PRESIDENT WHO HAD BRIGHT'S DISEASE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2133

RESPECTED FORMER PRESIDENT
ARTHUR DIED 130 YEARS AGO 

New York City (JFK+50) One hundred and thirty years ago today, November 18, 1886, the 21st President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, died at the age of 56 here in New York City from complications of Bright's Disease, a debilitating and fatal kidney ailment.

According to Constitution Daily, the former POTUS had known that this disease could result in death for at least six months.

Arthur, who was born in Fairfield, Vermont,  became president in 1881 upon the death of James A. Garfield.  As President, Arthur surprised the stalwarts (conservatives) of the Republican Party by supporting and signing into law the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act.  He also advocated tariff relief for business and breaks for taxpayers.

While Arthur finished out Garfield's term, he was not renominated by his party and retired to New York.

The funeral was held at the Church of Heavenly Rest in New York City.

Journalist Alexander McClure later wrote...

 "No man ever entered the Presidency so distrusted and no one ever retired more generally respected."

SOURCE

"Chester Alan Arthur's brave, short presidency," Constitution Daily, www.blog.constitutioncenter.org/

Chester A. Arthur

21st President

1881-1885

HAYES, GARFIELD & ARTHUR, OH MY!

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2075

CHESTER A. ARTHUR WAS THE THIRD PRESIDENT IN 1841

New York City (JFK+50) Chester Allen Arthur was sworn in 135 years ago today, September 20, 1881 as President of the United States following the death of James A. Garfield.  When the year began, Rutherford B. Hayes was POTUS so by year's end, three men had served as Chief Executive...Hayes-Garfield-Arthur.

This was not the first time that had happened.  Forty years before, in 1841, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison and John Tyler served as POTUS.

The commonality of 1841 & 1881 was the death of an incumbent president.  In 1841, William Henry Harrison died after only one month in office while in 1881, James A. Garfield died after six months of service.  Both presidents died in the same year that they had been sworn-in.

Arthur was sworn in at his residence at 123 Lexington Avenue by Justice John R. Brady of the New York State Supreme Court.

 Chester A. Arthur

Swearing-In Ceremony

New York City

September 20, 1881

JFK SPEAKS TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

September 20, 2013

JFK SPOKE TO UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY!

New York City (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy came to New York 50 years ago today, September 20, 1963, to address the United Nations General Assembly.

It had been two years since the President last addressed the delegates of the world peace organization.

JFK spoke with pride about his limited nuclear test ban treaty and expressed confidence that it would be ratified by the Senate.

The President said:

"We have not been released from our obligations and if we fail to make the most of this moment and the momentum....then the indictment of posterity will rightly point its finger at us all."

JFK also proposed that the United States and Soviet Union cooperate in an expedition to the moon.

JFK said:

"The Soviet Union and the United States together with their allies, can achieve further agreements---agreements which spring from our mutual interest in avoiding mutual destruction."

The President concluded his speech to the assembly with these words:

"My fellow inhabitants of this planet, let us take our stand here in this assembly of nations, and let us see if we, in our own time, can move the world to a just & lasting peace."

                     JFK Addresses UN
                    JFK Library Photo

THIRD PRESIDENT TO TAKE OATH OF OFFICE IN A SINGLE YEAR SWORN IN SEPT. 20, 1881

New York City (JFK+50) Chester Allen Arthur was sworn in 132 years ago today, September 20, 1881, as President of the United States following the death of James A. Garfield who was shot on July 2.

Arthur was sworn in at his residence at 123 Lexington Avenue by Justice John R. Brady of the New York State Supreme Court.

Arthur became the 3rd man to serve as President in the year 1881.  

The 1st was Rutherford B. Hayes who completed his one term of office.  The 2nd was James A. Garfield who won the Election of 1880 and was sworn in on March 4, 1881.  

This marked  the 2nd time the United States had 3 Presidents in a single year.  
The 1st was the year 1841 when Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison  and John Tyler held the office.

                Chester A. Arthur
        Swearing-In Ceremony
                  New York City
             September 20, 1881