The Gentleman Boss
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
High school history books tell you Chester "Chet" Arthur was a "dandy," a machine politician and an accidental president, but little more. This highly readable, very informative and interesting biography adds much historical flesh to the bare-bones treatment Arthur gets in text books. A man who is all but a caricature to generations of students is made fully human, with all the positives and negatives that entails. And while chronicling the president's life the author also chronicles a fascinating era in American political history, the day when the party bosses ruled and presidential candidates were chosen in smoke-filled rooms and not in state primaries; primaries may be more democratic, but they sure are a lot less interesting to read about. If you enjoy presidential history, add this book to your library.
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
He is certainly one of the most obscure Presidents in American history. I enjoy reading about people who achieve high office, fame or fortune, probably because I want to find a link among them that predated their successes. In reading this excellent and very balanced biography, I came away with at least 3 lessons: 1) That blind luck can be the key ingredient in a man's success, for the early life and times of Chester Arthur no more predicted greatness than did those of Harry Truman (Truman, at least, was essentially honorable), 2) that is indeed possible for the Office to make the man, for once he became President, Arthur overcame many of his moral inadequacies, and 3) that for all we complain about American politics today, the state of the State in the late 19th century was more corrupt than most 21st century Americans would ever imagine possible. For these three lessons alone, the book is certainly a worthwhile read.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Over the last several years, I've read more than 30 presidential biographies. I would rate Reeves' biography of Chester Arthur in the top ten. Given the subject matter, this is especially noteworthy. It's one thing to write an interesting biography of Teddy Roosevelt. It is something more to write a great book about Chester Arthur. Gentleman Boss is highly readable, well researched, and presents the corruption of the times in detail and in context.
Certainly the post-Civil Wars years were the low point in US politics in terms of the quality of our presidents, the corruption of the elections, and politicians' contemptible disregard for actually addressing any of the problems of the day.
Chester Arthur was probably the most corrupted politician to become President (but most biographies minimize this part of the story - so its often hard to tell). The first two-thirds of Gentleman Boss details Arthur's years prior to his becoming President. He was a spoils man in the New York machine, controlled assessments of public employees, and managed patronage for the Stalwart branch of the Republican Party for more than 20 years. The investigations of the New York customs house and stolen election of 1876 are presented in fascinating detail. As the spoils system got more and more unfavorable press, and various investigations began, Arthur lied again and again. He participated in large vote buying schemes and bragged of this in a famous speech at Delmonico's Restaurant following his election as Vice President. His nomination to be Vice President was an affront to anyone who was interested in cleaning up politics. Even after he was elected Vice President, he worked hard to undermine President Garfield by trying to fix more jobs (and overthrow Garfield appointees in New York).
Arthur was very intelligent and a brilliant organizer. In these regards but almost no other he was well-qualified to be president. The last third of Reeves' book describes Arthur's presidency and his effort to rise above his past and not dishonor the office. This portion of the book seems anti-climatic, but the first 250 pages are not to be missed.
Certainly the post-Civil Wars years were the low point in US politics in terms of the quality of our presidents, the corruption of the elections, and politicians' contemptible disregard for actually addressing any of the problems of the day.
Chester Arthur was probably the most corrupted politician to become President (but most biographies minimize this part of the story - so its often hard to tell). The first two-thirds of Gentleman Boss details Arthur's years prior to his becoming President. He was a spoils man in the New York machine, controlled assessments of public employees, and managed patronage for the Stalwart branch of the Republican Party for more than 20 years. The investigations of the New York customs house and stolen election of 1876 are presented in fascinating detail. As the spoils system got more and more unfavorable press, and various investigations began, Arthur lied again and again. He participated in large vote buying schemes and bragged of this in a famous speech at Delmonico's Restaurant following his election as Vice President. His nomination to be Vice President was an affront to anyone who was interested in cleaning up politics. Even after he was elected Vice President, he worked hard to undermine President Garfield by trying to fix more jobs (and overthrow Garfield appointees in New York).
Arthur was very intelligent and a brilliant organizer. In these regards but almost no other he was well-qualified to be president. The last third of Reeves' book describes Arthur's presidency and his effort to rise above his past and not dishonor the office. This portion of the book seems anti-climatic, but the first 250 pages are not to be missed.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Boss Man
The first half of this biography is really more about Roscoe Conkling than Chester A. Arthur. Conkling was a Senator from New York State and also a Republican Party political boss... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark R. Brewer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gentleman Boss: The Life of Chester Alan Arthur
Slowly making my way through biographies of all the presidents. This book does a good job of explaining the life of an obscure 19th century president.
Published 3 months ago by Beth
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Honest Biography of a Transformative President
There are two things that stand out for me as amazing about Thomas C. Reeves' wonderful biography of the 21st President of the United States entitled Gentleman Boss: The Life and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rule 62 Ken
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent biography
Chester Alan Arthur and post Civil War politics are explained in very interesting manner. The drama of Arthur's assumption of the Presidency and then the steady Presidency. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Scott Sirk
4.0 out of 5 stars
suprisingly good
i like others have a project of reading a biography of every american president. i have to admit the thought of reading a long biography of chester a arthur did not excite me. Read more
Published on January 29, 2011 by E. Dr
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gentleman Boss: Life of Chester A. Arthur
This is a well researched biography of one of our most forgotten chief executives. From political hack to the most esteemed office in the land, the journey of Arthur's life reads... Read more
Published on March 20, 2010 by Diane Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gilded Age Politics
Presidential history can be fascinating, in that each Chief Executive has contributed huge influence to our National story. Read more
Published on February 8, 2009 by Scott A. Kallick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gilded Age Politics at its finest
The Gentleman Boss covers the turbulent times of the gilded Age through Chester Arthur's eyes. While being very sympathetic to its subject it nonetheless does a phenomenal job of... Read more
Published on June 9, 2008 by Lehigh History Student
