In 1881, Hatton was a candidate for several federal appointments at the start of the
James A. Garfield administration. Garfield died that summer and in October, Hatton was appointed First Assistant Postmaster General during
Chester A. Arthur's presidency. Hatton worked unsuccessfully to nominate President Arthur for a full term at the
1884 Republican National Convention. The nomination was won by
James G. Blaine, who went on to lose the general election to Democrat
Grover Cleveland. Hatton left office at the end of Arthur's term and returned to the newspaper business. ==Later career==