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fictionadventurer · 9 months

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I have to talk about Chester Arthur. His story makes me go crazy. A mediocre president from the 1880s who's completely forgotten today has one of the best redemption stories I've ever heard and I need to make people understand just how cool his story is.

So, like, he starts out as this idealist, okay? He's the son of an abolitionist minister and becomes famous as a New York lawyer who defends the North's version of Rosa Parks whose story desegregates New York City's trolley system.

Then he starts getting pulled into politics and becomes one of the grimiest pieces of the political machine. He wants money, power, prestige, and he gets it. He becomes the right-hand man of Roscoe Conkling, the most feared political boss in the nation, a guy who will throw his weight around and do the most ruthless things imaginable to keep his friends in power and destroy his enemies.

Because Arthur's this guy's top lackey, he gets to be Controller of the Port of New York--the best-paying political appointment in the country, because that port brings in, like, 70% of the federal government's funds in tariffs. He gets a huge salary plus a percentage of all the fines they levy on lawbreakers, and because he's not afraid to make up infractions to fine people over, he is absolutely raking in the dough. Making the rough equivalent of $1.3 million a year--absolutely insane amounts of money for a government position. He's spending ridiculous sums on clothes, buying huge amounts of alcohol and cigars to share with people as part of his job recruiting supporters to the party, going out nearly every night to wine and dine people as part of his work in the political machine. He's living the high life. Even when President Hayes pulls him from his position on suspicions of fraud, he's still living a great life of wealth, power, and prestige.

Then in 1880, his beloved wife dies. While he's out of town working for a political campaign. And he can't get back in time to say goodbye before she dies. Because he's a guy who has big emotions, it absolutely tears him up inside, especially because Nell resented how much his political work kept him away from home. He has huge regrets, but he just moves in with Roscoe Conkling and keeps working for the political machine.

And then he gets a chance to be vice president. The Republican Party has nominated James Garfield, a dark horse candidate who wants to reform the spoils system that has given Conking his power and gave Arthur his position as Port Controller. Conkling is pissed, and he controls New York, and since the party's not going to win the election without New York, they think that appointing Conkling's top lackey as vice-president will pacify him.

They're wrong--Conkling orders Arthur to refuse--but Arthur thinks this sounds like a great opportunity. The only political position he's ever held is Port Controller--a job he wasn't elected to and that he was pulled from in disgrace. Vice President is way more than he could ever have hoped for. It's a position with a lot of political pull and zero actual responsibilities. He'll get to spend four years living in up in Washington high society. It's the perfect job! Of course he accepts, and Conkling comes around when he figures out that he can use this to his advantage.

When Garfield becomes president, Arthur does everything he can to undermine him. He uses every dirty political trick he can think of to block everything that Garfield wants to do. He refuses to let the Senate elect a president pro tempore so he can stay there and influence every bill that comes through. He all but openly boasts of buying votes in the election. He's so much Conkling's lackey that he may as well be the henchman of a cartoon supervillain. On Conkling's orders, he drags one of Garfield's Cabinet members out of bed in the middle of the night--while the guy is ill--to drag him to Conkling's house so he can be forced to resign. He's just absolutely a thorn in the president's side, a henchman doing everything he can to maintain the corrupt spoils system.

Then in July 1881, when Arthur's in New York helping Conkling's campaign, the president gets shot. By a guy who shouts, "Now Arthur will be president!" just after he fires the gun. Arthur has just spent the past four months fighting the president tooth and nail. Everyone thinks he's behind the assassination. There are lynch mobs looking to take out him and Conkling. The papers are tearing him apart.

Arthur is absolutely distraught. He rushes to Washington to speak with the president and assure him of his innocence, but the doctors won't let him in the room. He gets choked up when talking to the First Lady. Reporters find him weeping in his house in Washington. Once again, death has torn his world apart and he's not getting a chance to make amends.

Arthur goes to New York while the president is getting medical treatment, and he refuses to come to Washington and take charge because he doesn't dare to give the impression that he's looking to take over. No one wants Arthur to be president and he doesn't want to be president, and the possibility that this corrupt political lackey is about to ascend to the highest office in the land is absolutely terrifying to everyone.

Then in August, when it's becoming clear that the president is unlikely to recover, he gets a letter. From a 31-year-old invalid from New York named Julia Sand. A woman from a very politically-minded family who has been following Arthur's career for years. And she writes him this astounding letter that takes him to task for his corrupt, conniving ways, and the obsession with worldly power and prestige that has brought him wealth and fame at the cost of his own soul--and she tells him that he can do better. In the midst of a nationwide press that's tearing him apart, this one woman writes to tell him that she believes he has the capacity to be a good president and a good man if he changes his ways.

And then he does. After Garfield dies, people come to Arthur's house and find servants who tell them that Arthur is in his room weeping like a child (I told you he had big emotions), but he takes the oath of office and ascends to the presidency. And he becomes a completely different man. His first speech as president mentions that one of his top priorities is reforming the spoils system so that people will be appointed based on merit rather than getting appointed as political favors with each change in the administration. Even though this system made him president. When Conkling comes to Arthur's office telling him to appoint his people to important government positions, Arthur calls his demands outrageous, throws him out, and keeps Garfield's appointees in the positions. "He's not Chet Arthur anymore," one of his former political friends laments. "He's the president."

He loses all his former political friends. He's never trusted by the other side. Yet he sticks to his guns and continues to support spoils system reform. He prosecutes a postal service corruption case that everyone thought he would drop. He's the one who signs into law the first civil service reform bill, even though presidents have been trying to do this for more than ten years, and he's the person who's gained all his power through the spoils system. He immediately takes action to enforce this bill when he could have just dropped it. He becomes a champion of this issue even though it's the last thing anyone would have expected of him.

He oversees naval reform. He oversees a renovation of the White House. He still prefers the social duties of the presidency, but he's respectable in a way that no one expected. Possibly because Julia Sand keeps sending him letters of encouragement and advice over the next two years. But also because he's dying.

Not long after ascending to the presidency, he learns he's suffering from a terminal kidney disease. And he tells no one. He keeps going about his daily life, fulfilling his duties as president, and keeps his health problems hidden. Once again, death is upending his life, and this time it's his own death. He's lived a life he's ashamed of, and he doesn't have much time left to change. He enters the presidency as an example of the absolute worst of the political system, and leaves it as a respectable man.

He makes a token effort to seek re-election, but because of his health problems, he doesn't mind at all when someone else gets the nomination. He dies a couple of years after leaving office. The day before his death, he orders most of his papers burned, because he's ashamed of his old life--but among the things that are saved are the letters from Julia Sand, the woman who encouraged him to change his ways.

This is an astounding story full of so many twists and turns and dramatic moments. A man who falls from idealism into the worst kind of corruption and then claws his way back up to decency because of a series of devastating personal losses and unexpected opportunities to do more than he could have ever hoped to do. I just go crazy thinking about it and I need you all to understand just how amazing this story is.

#history is awesome #presidential talk #i thought about his story again this morning #and was once again struck by the desire to chase people down and make them understand just how amazing this story is #and instead of harassing random strangers i decided to inflict it on tumblr again #my original essay was rather too long and dry and tangled up in too many other details #and didn't quite capture the 'i want to chase you down and look you in the eye and make you freak out about this with me' vibe of this stor #this still doesn't quite capture it but at least it's shorter #and prevents me from rambling to unsuspecting family members #sorry for inflicting this on you again but what else am i supposed to do?

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gophergal · 4 months

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Heavy no you don't know where he's been

#gopher art #heavymedic #red oktoberfest #tf2 medic #tf2 heavy #team fortress 2 #not very high effort but it struck me with the giggles #this is pretty early in their time at Red #ive drawn medic looking wacky so much. when will he calm the fuck down #misha be careful. youve been warned about sticking your d in crazy

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magpie-trinkets · 3 months

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so i've been playing p5r and this is a summary of the endgame boss battles (and i couldn't have it any other way)

#persona 5 #persona 5 royal #persona 5 spoilers #p5 spoilers #makoto nijima #haru okumura #goro akechi #shitpost #my art #ms paint #yes. they also struck down two archangels <3

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amielot · 4 days

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Uno Reverse

Bonus:

@arialerendeair keeps giving me ideas to springboard off of XD

final image was referenced from Calvin and Hobbes :3

#he drank the water #listen I love the trope of Dream offering Hob a boon or service #out of some warped logic that Hob expects something later #and its so sweet when Hob says Dream “owes him nothing”#but the funnier and more unhinged option is for Hob to immediately order Dream to practice self care.#Dream: “wait no that's illegal!”#I also love the concept of Dream suspiciously theory crafting why Hob is being kind #only for his hypotheses to get struck down with increasing hilarity #this is good for Dream though #he's testing his new boundaries #horse girl au #the sandman #the art tag #dreamling #hob gadling #dream of the endless #centaur!dream #centaurs

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abombihoney · 9 months

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she's so fucking mean 2 me

#my art #hk #godseeker #the little knight #Translation of her insults:#You're short. You're so short the only reason that god hasn't struck you down is he can't tell you apart from the dirt.#You look like a carpet fucked a nerd #You make my house worse by being it cause ur short and ugly #Stop looking at me with them big ol eyes #You're a cringe ass nae nae baby #You make me wanna puke #You're not even good enough to be the dirt i walk on #Your face looks like an ugly rock #You're ugly. You're disgusting. I gonna kill you. I hate you. Give me 200 dollars.#q #hollow knight

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time-woods · 1 year

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how 2 get your divorced (but not even married in the first place) dads to like each other- set up a totally not rigged blind date!

(This is also apart of the family au))

#rottmnt #anon requested something like this and I changed sum stuff up but thank u anon for giving me this idea #also yes I know it’s a bit late 2 be posting but shh #draxum is praying 2 get struck down by lightning any moment now

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nvmbrains · 5 months

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How bittersweet is it for Alicent to know that she was always a one-man army in defense of Rhaenyra, always her greatest defender and in the end she was the one who took her down?

#If the war had been between Rhaenyra and Laena's children Alicent alone would have struck down all of Rhaenyra's enemies.#rhaenicent #rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenyra x alicent #hotd #alicent hightower #house of the dragon

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officialmiintee · 1 month

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don quixote, the fallen god(s)

#artists on tumblr #fanart #one piece #one piece fanart #don quixote doflamingo #don quixotes brothers #don quixote rosinante #don quixote corazon #haha get it because god(s) because you dont know which don quixote had fallen but irl theyve both fallen #first because they were cast out of marie geoise #teehee #mint archives ; art #second because doffy became THAT #and rosi was well struck down by his own brother

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r0b0t1me · 1 year

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He’s not here to die. He’s here to show these people a good time.

fanart for mutant ninja midlife crisis / outfit referenced from @/somerandomdudelmao

#my art #rottmnt #rottmnt movie #rise of the tmnt #i didnt even finish this goddamn chapter i felt struck by lightning #had to get this down #i had way too much fun with the tatts #READ THE FIC. IT SLAPS. AND MAKES ME WEEPY

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dizzybizz · 7 months

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shane's birthday was an experience

#the way i ran down to marnies barn to catch shane on his way out. then going in to greet marnie. and the event struck. the timing. 😭#im lowkey having an art style crisis but we ball #stardew valley #sdv #sdv shane #sdv farmer #sdv marnie #guyssailawayfarm #my art #i wanna draw out my whole arc with gus cus its so fucking funny but its long aughghgdhdjhdagsjdhdjhsg #i think i have an idea for how i wanna do it tho lol

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that-foul-legacy-lover · 1 year

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*swings legs* some SAGAU thoughts for when you're sick

it's been raining for days.

no one's sure what caused the sudden flood- normally Liyue's storms were quick and short, unless an Adeptus or God had some part in it- but this time it continued for weeks, the rainwater soaking into the soil and pooling in crevices, the canals of the Harbor overflowing into the streets. the people grow worried, turning to the Qixing who have no solutions, and the hidden Rex Lapis investigates in the shadows and uncovers nothing.

Childe simply watches the rain in silence, leaning against the cave wall, the horns of his Foul Legacy form lightly clacking against the damp stone. unlike the rest, he knows the source of the downpour- but it doesn't make it any less worrying.

there's a soft groan behind him, and Childe's head jerks towards the mound of blankets on the floor, hurrying to kneel beside the figure buried beneath the covers- the Creator, his God.

you.

how long have you been sick for? too long- far too long for anyone, but there's not much either of you can do, with the entire nation and beyond hunting for your head. his claws brush your forehead, a low whine slipping from his fanged maw when he feels it burning, just as it was the day before. the Abyss in him howls for revenge- to strike down those who hurt you, those who chased you away, those who forced you to hide in a dark, cold cavern- but a shuddering gasp from you quiets his desire for blood, cooling it to soft, fluttering concern in his chest. your eyes, previously screwed shut in pain, crack open as you look dazedly at Childe's Foul Legacy.

"Ajax...?"

ah. his God uttering his true name in such a gentle tone would normally make his heart soar, but now it simply makes him whimper, knowing you can barely see him through the haze of your sickness. your hand extends out from under the blankets, weakly grasping one of his claws, and in a moment of solemn, fretful reverence, he brings it to his mouth and presses his version of a kiss to your too-warm skin. you shift, attempting to scoot closer, and Childe carefully scoops you and the covers into his arms, resting his chin atop your head as you curl against his chest.

you let out a wracking cough, and Childe has to hold back a sob, instead focusing on purring smoothly to help you sleep, talons mindful of the injuries and bruises that litter your body.

holding his God close, Childe quietly watches the rain thin slightly as you find comfort in his hold.

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lorelune · 4 months

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jing yuan would be such a particular flavor of yandere, he really would stack every card against you. he'd destabilize you from a distance. some horrible circumstantial loss of your home, job, a hemorrhaging of a social circle you relied on. it is easier to pick up a stray when its both friendly and hungry.

jing yuan waits to swoop into your life. he orchestrates a number of interviews that fail, stressful night's out which end with you flinching at every shadow you see. once you're frayed and losing hope? then he will offer a hand. barely. he's the general, only what he could write off as proper. perhaps an afternoon cup of tea? he does like to know about the wellbeing of the denizens of the luofu. he has a garden he keeps, full of fat sparrows, he'd be happy to show you if you have time.

it's comfort he means to provide. he has stripped you of what little you had before. what remains is all fragments, hardly there, but good building blocks for what he'd like you to be. jing yuan knows this is cruel. he knows the game he is playing is at your expense, and he does not lie to himself about this fact.

jing yuan does hope, however, that perhaps you will be more content under his thumb. not as a card in his hand, a piece on a board, but a lover at his side when circumstance has left him alone and old. he thinks you'll like it, maybe. that you could if you only trusted him and never thought to hard about the events that led you to be perched so close to him, ensnared.

#lore loops #thirsts #jing yuan x reader #GENUINELLY scratching my head about this guy as a yandere #he is interesting #he tempers obsession with logic and strategy which makes Him Scary #also completely aware he could brute force it and has political power that makes him essentially infallible #but he'd much rather do this less messily #he'd rather break you down without using his own hands #its easier to teach you to love them if they haven't struck you before ya know #tw yandere

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