In this episode of Beyond Mount Rushmore, we dive into the intriguing life and presidency of Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. Stan Nawalaniec, our self-proclaimed presidential historian, and I explore Arthur’s unexpected rise from customs collector at the Port of New York to vice president, and ultimately to the presidency after the assassination of James Garfield.

There’s corruption, his connections to the powerful New York political machine, and some controversy surrounding Arthur’s birthplace. As for Arthur’s personal life, he was a widower, and his sister was the First Lady. And, we reveal that Arthur ordered all his presidential papers to be burned on his deathbed, leaving behind a mysterious legacy with little documentation of his time in office.

Join us for our next episode, where we’ll discuss William McKinley, the 25th president, and the secrets surrounding his assassination. Thank you for listening to Beyond Mount Rushmore, where we explore the history you didn’t know you needed!