Chester A. Arthur
The Accidental President

This is a quite dry, quick, very surface level overview of Arthur while also casting its net wide to describe Gilded Age and Progressive Era America. However, the author doesn’t show how his discussions of cultural and religious topics, for example, relate to Arthur’s presidency or life. I just need......more

This book didn't inspire much admiration in President Chester Arthur, but it was interesting enough to read more about a president I knew nothing about. Writing at times was a bit tangential but overall, ok. Reads like a slightly interesting history paper.......more

I started this book very curious to learn about an obscure, lesser known president. I finished it with the same sentiments.......more

I've read several books on our 21st president, and this is the one I'd least recommend. Pafford takes a sympathetic approach to Arthur, but his information is thin and more than half the book is more about Arthur's times rather than Arthur himself. In fact, Pafford seems more interested in giving a......more

Interestingly, this book had more about the era Arthur was President in, then about his presidency. He fell into it, and was a presence, but didn't lead the country per say and certainly was not afforded the grandeur of the way we see Presidents today. Pretty succinct read and enjoyable, but not not......more