Portrait Gallery

Harper's Weekly, October 1, 1881

Page 660

President Arthur Taking the Oath of Office

September 20, 1881

President Arthur Taking the Oath at His Private Residence
President Arthur Taking the Oath at His Private Residence
—Drawn from life by J. W. Alexander

As the result of communications with members of the cabinet, it had been understood that in the event of President GARFIELD'S death his successor should take the oath of office without delay. As soon, therefore, as General ARTHUR received the telegram from Attorney-General MACVEAGH announcing the President's decease, several of the Vice-President's friends, who were with him at the time, went out in search of a judge. Shortly after one o'clock in the morning Mr. ELIHU ROOT and Dr. P. C. VAN WYCK returned with Judge BRADY, and soon afterward Judge DONOHUE came in with District Attorney ROLLINS and Police Commissioner FRENCH. As Justice BRADY came first, he was asked to administer the oath. There were then present in General ARTHUR'S parlors, besides himself and his son and those named above, only General ARTHUR'S private secretary, J. C. REED, making nine in all. General ARTHUR and Justice BRADY stood in the centre of the front parlor, and the others were standing closely around. It was a very striking scene, the time of the night intensifying the impressiveness that all the other circumstances gave to it. At its conclusion there was some quiet conversation before the visitors started for home.

This scene took place on Tuesday morning about half past one o'clock. On his arrival at Washington on Thursday it was decided, on consultation with members of the cabinet, that as he had taken the oath in New York before a State magistrate, and as no national record of the fact existed, it would be better to have the oath administered again by the Chief Justice of the United States, so that the official evidence that the Vice-President had taken the oath of office as President would appear in the records of the Supreme Court of the United States at the national Capitol.

The ceremony was brief and impressive. There were present Chief Justice WAITE, ex-Presidents GRANT and HAYES, General SHERMAN, the cabinet, ex-Justice STRONG, and a few Senators and Representatives. The Chief Justice read the oath to President ARTHUR, and the latter, after having assented to it, read a brief address, assuming the office. During the reading he was deeply affected, and his voice trembled perceptibly. Those present then paid their respects to him as President, and after some informal conversation the assembly dispersed.

President Arthur Taking the Oath at His Private Residence, by J. W. Alexander, Harper's Weeky, October 1, 1881 (PDF)

Arthur's private residence was 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City. See HMdb.

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