Chester Arthur began his law career in New York City by defending fugitive slaves. In 1860, he was appointed New York State engineer-in-chief. For the first two years of the Civil War, he was assistant quartermaster general, supplying food and equipment for the New York militia. He moved up to inspector general and then to quartermaster general. In 1872, President Grant appointed Arthur collector of the port of New York, a post that involved the handling of two-third of U.S. tariff revenues. It was the most profitable and powerful patronage job in the nation.

He was offered the vice presidential nomination in 1880 after James A. Garfield was nominated as the Republication presidential candidate. Garfield won the election and was shot July 2, 1881. He died two and one half months later. Arthur became president. He prosecuted grafters in the post office and vetoed rivers and harbors legislation, a veto overridden by Congress. After the Republicans lost congressional elections in 1882, Congress enacted the Pendleton Law that created a Civil Service Commission and a classified merit system. A weak record as president and lack of support from his own party kept Arthur from getting the Republication presidential nomination in 1884.