1978: NOAA announces gender-neutral hurricane naming system
Federal News Network presents a daily update of important moments in the history of the U.S. government.
Chester Arthur was inaugurated on Sept. 20, 1881, becoming the third person to serve as president in that year. Rutherford B. Hayes began the year in office, finishing his only term and then officially being replaced by James A. Garfield in March 1881. Just four months into his term, on July 2, Garfield was shot by an assassin named Charles Guiteau. Garfield sustained wounds to his back and abdomen and struggled to recover throughout the summer, dying on Sept. 19. The next day, Vice President Chester Arthur was sworn in as president. Strangely, Garfield’s assassin wrote to the new president from jail, taking credit for vaulting Arthur into the White House. Arthur served only one term from 1881 to 1885. This feat of succession was not unprecedented, however — a similar situation occurred in 1841 when Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison and John Tyler all held the office.
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