ELLEN LEWIS HERNDON ARTHUR | An intriguing letter by Ellen Arthur, one of the rarest of presidential spouses, providing a glimpse at the Conkling patronage machine

ELLEN LEWIS HERNDON ARTHUR

AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("ELLEN L. H. ARTHUR"), TO "MY DEAR NAN"

2 pages (5 3/4 x 4 7/8 in.; 146 x 123 mm) on 2 leaves of notepaper, "123 Lext Ave." [New York], 23 October [1871−1878]

New York Senator Roscoe Conkling controlled political patronage in that state absolutely after the Civil War. He managed to have President Grant install one of his followers, Chester A. Arthur, as Collector of Customs at the Port of New York, from which position Arthur controlled almost a thousand jobs. In the present letter, Mrs. Arthur provides a letter of introduction to the husband of a friend who was evidently seeking employment.

"Please ask your good husband to go to the Custom House just as soon as he likes, the sooner the better of course—and ask for Mr. Arthur's [preceding name crossed out] Mr. Phillips in the Collector's office."

Ellen Arthur died of pneumonia in January 1880, before her husband was nominated as the Republican candidate for vice president, from which office he would succeed to the presidency, after the assassination of James Garfield.