The best information about Chester A Arthur was that he was frequently a liar and worked hard to hide information. The facts were not found by the press of the day and many were distracted by claims he was really born in Canada.
I hadn't run across Charles Evans Hughes Sr at the time. I have read one site that suggests he was, without doubt, not qualified under jus sanguinis and that a Democrat, FDR's future Secretary of State Breckenridge Long, brought the issue forward at the time. Maybe Hughes was qualified, maybe he was not. It's less important since he was not elected president BUT that is was an issue then, makes it a legitimate issue now.
Neither answers the question of Obama's qualification or address his flippant unwillingness to release his long for birth certificate. I realize his action is purposeful, designed as a red herring and allow him to mock opponents.
It's a scandal the courts, the congress and state legislatures (via eligibility bills) have been unwilling to look at this issue. It's evident there is, as Al Gore once infamously said, "no controlling legal authority."
How is a certified copy of a birth certificate required for a driver's license or state ID card but, apparently, not to become POTUS? What are these legislators really afraid of? Even bills that would bypass the 2012 election, and therefore questions about Obama, are failing.
NE - LB 654 hearing held as of 3/10/11. HI - HB1116 Rida Cabanilla (D!) intro'd bill 1/11 to supply BC for "persons of civic prominence" upon request and $100 fee. MO - Failed in '09. Trying again, HB 283 hearing held as of 3/1/11. TX - HB 295 intro'd 11/10, in committee as of 2/15 TN - SB 1043 intro'd 1/11, in committee as of 2/23. OK - Failed in '08. SB91 advanced to House for consideration as of 3/14. To see the details, type SB91 in the "Measure Number" box on the Oklahoma Legislature Home Page Quick Search Form CT - SB 391 intro'd 1/11. In committee. IA - SF 369, intro'd 3/11. In committee. ME - LD34, Died in committee 3/3/11. GA - Failed in '10. (HB 1516). Failed in '11 (HB 401). MT - HB 205 intro'd 1/11. "Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal" AZ - Failed in '10 - passed house, senate refused to vote. Tried in 2/11, died in senate committee. IN - Intro'd 1/11. Died in committee. NH - Intro'd 3/11. Died in committee.