Pen Pals with the President episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 23, 2026 · 12 MIN

Pen Pals with the President

from History Shorts

Before he became one of America's most unexpected reform presidents, Chester A. Arthur was widely dismissed as a creature of political machines—a man few believed would ever rise above patronage and scandal. Then, during one of the most turbulent moments in his life, a quiet voice began reaching him through a series of handwritten letters. That voice belonged to Julia I. Sand, a politically engaged New Yorker who never held office, never wielded power, and never even received a reply—yet wrote dozens of deeply personal letters urging Arthur to lead with integrity, courage, and reform. DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise  LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/ SPONSORED BY: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/get-it-now 

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Pen Pals with the President

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