FAIRFIELD, Vt. — Finding the “birthplace” of President Chester A. Arthur is easy: Nearly 5 miles up a two-lane road is the tiny Chester A. Arthur Historic Site, proclaiming the spot where the 21st president was born in a cottage.
Or was he? Nearly 123 years after his death, doubts about his citizenship linger, thanks to lack of documentation and a foe’s claim that Arthur was born in Canada and ineligible for the White House, where he served from 1881 to 1885.
Before “birthers” began questioning the citizenship of President Barack Obama, similar questions were raised about Arthur, who ascended to the job after President James Garfield was assassinated.
“It’s an old rumor that won’t die, political slander,” said John Dumville, who runs Vermont’s historic sites.
