On this day in history, Sept.20th, 1881, a new leader took the oath of office, becoming The 21st President of the United States.
As 1881 dawned, the Republican Rutherford B. Hayes occupied the White House. After completing his single term, Hayes handed power over to James A. Garfield in March 1881. Tragically, just four months into his presidency, Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2. Guiteau's motive? He claimed that Garfield had denied him a political position.
Chester A. Arthur stepped into the nation's highest office on September 20, 1881, taking the presidential oath at his New York City home. This came in the wake of President James A. Garfield's death the previous evening.
The news of Garfield's passing reached Arthur via telegram around midnight on the night of September 19, 1881, sent by a member of Garfield's cabinet. At the time, Arthur was at home in the company of Police Commissioner Stephen B. French, District Attorney Daniel G. Rollins and attorney Elihu Root.
A wire from President Arthur's cabinet members urged him to "take the oath of office as president of the United States without delay."
With this inauguration, Chester A. Arthur embarked on what would be his sole stint in the presidency — a partial term lasting 3 years, 165 days.
On January 20, 2019, it was the first non-scheduled inauguration in New York City since George Washington's in 1789. It was the last non-scheduled inauguration to occur in the 19th century.
Two days later, on September 22, 1881, President Arthur took the oath a second time in Washington, DC, this time before Chief Justice Morrison Waite at the US Capitol.