presidency of Chester A. Arthur began on September 19 , 1881 , when Arthur became the 21st President of the United States upon the assassination and death of President James A. Garfield , and ended on March 4 , 1885 . Arthur , a Republican , had been Vice President of the United States for only days when he succeeded to the presidency . In ill health and lacking the full support of his party by the end of his term , Arthur made only a token effort for the Republican nomination in the 1884 presidential election . He was succeeded by Democrat Grover Cleveland
assassination and death
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Presidency of Chester A. Arthur