Researching Roscoe Conkling

While in the U.S. House, Conkling served as bodyguard for abolitionist Representative Thaddeus Stevens and fully supported the Republican war effort. Conkling was elevated to the Senate in 1867 as a leading Radical Republican supporter of equal rights for freed Black Americans. As Senator, his control of patronage at the New York Customs House, one of the busiest commercial ports in the world, made him incredibly powerful. His comity with President Ulysses S. Grant and conflict with Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and James A. Garfield were defining features of American politics of the 1870s and 1880s.

Conkling publicly led opposition to civil service reform and defended the prerogatives of Senators in doling out appointed posts, a lucrative and often corrupt practice. His conflict with President Garfield over appointments eventually led to Conkling's resignation in 1881. He ran for re-election to his seat in an attempt to display his support from the New York political machine and his power, but lost the special election, likely due at least in part to Garfield's assassination. Though Conkling never returned to elected office, the assassination elevated Chester A. Arthur, a former New York Collector and Conkling ally, to the presidency. Their relationship was destroyed when Arthur pursued civil service reform, out of his sense of duty to the late President Garfield. Conkling remained active in politics and practiced law in New York City until his death in 1888.

Conkling turned down two presidential appointments to the United States Supreme Court: first to the position of Chief Justice in 1873 and then as Associate Justice in 1882. In 1882, Conkling at first accepted the offer and was confirmed by the Senate, but changed his mind and refused to serve, the last person (as of ) to have done so.