Chester Arthur — 21st President (1881–1885)

**Chester Arthur** was the ultimate unlikely reformer. A product of the New York political machine, he was known as "The Gentleman Boss" — a patronage politician who became president after Garfield's assassination and then turned against the very system that made him, signing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. He transformed from hack to statesman because the office demanded it, proving that sometimes the job changes the person.