'Presidents of the Gilded Age, Part 4: Chester Arthur' Webinar

The period known as the American Gilded Age (~1870s-1910s) saw America grow from a nation fractured by Civil War to an emerging superpower at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was also defined by tremendous economic and industrial wealth consolidated in the hands of a few — all while immigration surged, corruption was commonplace, a labor movement was formed, the West was won, and America became an imperialist power. Who were the presidents during this critical era, and how did their political successes and failures shape the course of the nation? With the help of a presidential historian, it's time to uncover the personal stories and legacies of eight U.S. Presidents and how their actions are still relevant to this very day.

Join New York Adventure Club for an eight-part series surrounding the Presidents of the United States who held office between 1869 and 1909 — a period known as the American Gilded Age. In Part Four: Chester Arthur, we explore the man who rose from a disgraced machine politician to the highest office in America after the assassination of James Garfield.

Led by presidential historian Louis L. Picone, this unique experience will include:

• Arthur's early years from growing up in a small town in northern Vermont to becoming a lawyer who won a landmark case in New York to desegregate public transportation system a century before Rosa Parks
• Arthur's service during the Civil War far from the battlefront as Quartermaster General of the New York Militia
• The story behind amiable Arthur being named Customs Collector of New York Custom House — the motherlode of political patronage — but unceremoniously fired by President Hayes in his efforts at Civil Service Reform
• Why Arthur was surprised to be named Vice President on the ticket with James Garfield in 1880 as a salve to the Spoils System wing of the party
• Arthur's rise to president when James Garfield was assassinated
• Despite being known as “The Dude President” for his extravagant tastes in food, wine, and clothes, and the presumption that he'd use the office to enrich himself and his friends, he defied all expectations and chose the American public over personal gain and supported good honest government (thanks to a mysterious woman who appealed to Arthur’s better angels)
• Arthur's major achievement in office (1881-1885), including the Pendleton Act, the first Civil Service Reform law in American history

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Louis — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week after the entire series concludes!

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Louis

Louis L. Picone is the award-winning author of Grant's Tomb: The Epic Death of Ulysses S. Grant and the Making of an American Pantheon, The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of the Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond and Where the Presidents Were Born: The History & Preservation of the Presidential Birthplaces.

Louis is a member of the Authors Guild, the American Historical Association, the Ulysses S. Grant Monument Association, and is also a trustee on the board of the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Association in Caldwell, NJ. He holds a Masters in History and also teaches at William Paterson University.

Louis has spoken widely on the topic of the presidents and the places we commemorate them, including the White House Historical Association Presidential Sites Summit in Dallas; James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Ohio; and the international conference "U.S. Presidents and Russian Rulers" at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. He has appeared on various media outlets including C-Span, Time Magazine, the BBC, NPR, and the Washington Post. Louis was also featured on the television program "American Mystery" on the Travel Channel to discuss the mystery of JFK's missing brain.

Presidents of the Gilded Age Series

Part 1: Ulysses S. Grant (Thursday, September 5)

Part 2: Rutherford B. Hayes (Thursday, September 12)

Part 3: James Garfield (Thursday, September 19)

Part 4: Chester A. Arthur (Friday, September 27)

Part 5: Grover Cleveland (Thursday, October 3)

Part 6: Benjamin Harrison (Thursday, October 10)

Part 7: William McKinley (Thursday, October 17)

Part 8: Theodore Roosevelt (Thursday, October 24)

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Categories: Virtual, Gilded Age

Host or Publisher New York Adventure Club