Chester A. Arthur’s Late-Night Strolls
The 21st president escaped White House confinement through midnight walks. Arthur regularly wandered Washington streets until 2 or 3 a.m. during his 1881-1885 term. He would don his top hat and slip out to chat with strangers or visit local establishments. Early Secret Service predecessors worried about these unsecured outings. Arthur relished this freedom from his presidential responsibilities. These nocturnal adventures revealed the dandy’s rebellion against official constraints.
