Who Was the Real Chester Arthur and His Relationship with James Garfield?
When President James Garfield was assassinated in 1881, Vice President Chester A. Arthur unexpectedly assumed the presidency amid widespread mistrust. Arthur, once seen as a party insider tied to political corruption, surprised the nation.
Following Garfield's shooting in July 1881, few Americans believed that Arthur could handle the ensuing crisis. Known as a New York Republican bureaucrat with a history in patronage and machine politics, Arthur lacked public confidence. However, after Garfield died from his wounds later that year, Arthur became the 21st President of the United States.
Arthur's Portrayal in Netflix's Death by Lightning
The story of Chester Arthur forms a quiet backdrop in the 2025 Netflix drama Death by Lightning, which depicts Garfield's assassination. In the series, Garfield is portrayed by Michael Shannon, while Charles Guiteau, the frustrated political hopeful who killed him, is played by Matthew Macfadyen. Chester Arthur, played by Nick Offerman, is shown as a reluctant figure thrust into high office, known more for his role as a Republican enforcer and a reputation for carousing.
"Chester Arthur is portrayed as something of a low man pushed into high office, a Republican enforcer famed for his carousing."
This depiction highlights Arthur's surprising transformation from a skeptical bureaucrat to a president who managed a nation in crisis.
Summary: Chester A. Arthur, initially distrusted as a corrupt party insider, defied expectations by leading the U.S. after Garfield's assassination, as portrayed in the 2025 Netflix drama Death by Lightning.