Former State Senator William Arrington revolutionized the political climate of Illinois, leaving behind the legacy of its modern-day legislature. Today, almost two decades after having dictated his memoirs from his death bed, his story is told.

Of all the great “what if” scenarios in American history, the aftermath of the presidential election of 1880 stands out as one of the most tantalizing. The end of the Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln had thrown the future of Lincoln’s vision for the country into considerable doubt; the years that followed—marked by impeachment, constitutional change, presidential scandals, and the contested election of 1876—saw Republicans fighting to retain power as they transitioned into the party of “big business.” Enter James A. Garfield, a seasoned politician known for his advocacy of civil rights, who represented the last potential Reconstruction presidency: truly, Benjamin T. Arrington suggests in this book, the last “Lincoln Republican.” The story of the presidential election of 1880, fully explored for the first time in The Last Lincoln Republican, is a political drama of lasting consequence and dashed possibilities. A fierce opponent of slavery before the war, Garfield had fought for civil rights for African Americans for years in Congress. Holding true to the original values of the Republican Party, Garfield wanted to promote equal opportunity for all; meanwhile, Democrats, led by Winfield Scott Hancock, sought to return the South to white supremacy and an inferior status for African Americans. With its in-depth account of the personalities and issues at play in 1880, Arrington’s book provides a unique perspective on how this critical election continues to resonate through our national politics and culture to this day. A close look at the contest of 1880 reveals that Garfield’s victory could have been the start of a period of greater civil rights legislation, a continuation of Lincoln’s vision. This was the choice made by the American people—and, as The Last Lincoln Republican makes poignantly clear, the great opportunity forever lost when Garfield was assassinated just a few months into his term.

Lawyer, judge, public servant, trailblazer: these are only a few words to describe the remarkable accomplishments of the Honorable Marvin S. Arrington, Sr., of Atlanta, Georgia. It's the story of a dedicated man, born in to the segregated South who went on to break down racial barriers and build walls of inclusion and harmony. Judge Arrington was the first African American to become partner at an all-white Atlanta law firm and then, later, established one of the largest and most successful minority law firms in the country. Today, Marvin Arrington is a distinguished judge on the Fulton County Superior Court who continues now to address the great challenges of the 21st century.