For generations, the family members of President Garfield shared stories about his impressive career but rarely mentioned his untimely death. We were aware what had happened, that he was gunned down in a transportation hub,” explains one of his family members. “We learned about the story in publications but, for various reasons, we just passed over it quickly.”
Fresh Curiosity in a Overlooked Leader
This shifted in 2011 with the publication of a historical book, which generated attention in Garfield's truncated career. The book has now inspired a streaming series titled the historical drama, starring an acclaimed actor as the president and another skilled actor as the drifter who assassinated him.
The series aims to highlight Garfield, who rose from poverty to the White House during the economic era only to succumb to its deep political rifts. His tenure was truncated after only several months not only by the killer's weapon but by physician mistakes – an event now largely forgotten while the killings of Abraham Lincoln and JFK continue to intrigue the public.
“You can't help but be proud what he did. He was like a multi-threat: he was a lawyer, he was a religious leader, he was a land worker. He was all of these things which also formed his character and how he was and all the information about him the descendants preserve with us.”
Starting from Nothing to the Presidency
Garfield was the final national leader coming from pioneer roots in Ohio in 1831. His parent passed away when he was just a toddler, leaving his mom, Eliza, to care for multiple kids in difficult circumstances. An dedicated student, Garfield found employment on vessels to generate income for an schooling.
He learned legal principles, was became a preacher, became president of Hiram College in Ohio and was a state senator. In 1858 he married a previous schoolmate, his partner, with whom he would have a large family. An ardent Unionist, Garfield viewed the national conflict as a holy crusade against forced servitude and rose to the military position.
“When I started researching him, I found it incredible. He was remarkably smart. He was fearless. He was ahead of his time for the era. He was compassionate. He was a good person and would have been one of our great presidents had he lived.”
Political Career and Surprise Candidacy
Garfield was encouraged by President Lincoln to resign his military commission when he was chosen to the House of Representatives, where he would work as a Republican for multiple terms. He was strong supporter of racial equality in elections, viewing it as a matter of justice and the completion of a military promise.
“The address he delivered on the House chamber will tear your heart out. He was an remarkable speaker and this topic was very important to him.”
At the 1880 Republican National Convention in Chicago the political organization was fundamentally fractured between the “political group”, led by Senator Roscoe Conkling, who supported a third term for Ulysses S Grant, and the “rival group”, who supported James G Blaine. Garfield attended as a supporter of his friend and fellow Ohioan John Sherman.
When the huge assembly was deadlocked between Grant and Blaine, party members began searching for a compromise. Garfield's powerful oration nominating Sherman won them over. During the speech, he reportedly shouted, “And now, delegates, what do we want?” to which a audience member unexpectedly replied, “We want Garfield!”
On the extended selection process, a rush of supporters made Garfield the unexpected candidate. To appease the Stalwart faction, Chester Arthur, a political ally from New York, was chosen as his vice president. In the national vote Garfield beat the rival politician to become the only sitting member of the House ever to be elected president.
Short Presidency and Government Conflicts
“What would have made Garfield great and what is remarkably uncommon and maybe special for the American presidency is he wasn't seeking the position. It's not that he had completely dismissed it but he was pushed toward it.”
The major battle of Garfield's short presidency was his disagreement with Conkling over the “political favors”. Conkling insisted on authority over government appointments in New York, particularly the influential position of Collector of the Port of New York. Garfield refused, stating the issue was “whether the president is registering clerk of the senate or the executive of the United States”. He nominated a rival of Conkling to the post.
The conflict turned into a open fight but Garfield outmaneuvered Conkling in the Senate. Facing a public failure, Conkling and his associate quit Congress in protest. The next day, Garfield's candidate was approved. It was a historic triumph for the executive authority over the faction system and for the cause of reform over “machine politics”.
The Assassin and His Disturbed Mind
But even as Garfield confronted influential people of his party, he was being pursued by a psychologically troubled person who exemplified the dark side of the spoils network. The assassin was a unstable individual with a history of career disappointments, emotional issues and childhood trauma. He had been unsuccessful as a legal professional, debt recovery agent, preacher and member of a alternative community.
“He was psychologically disturbed and his particular brand of madness was false belief. He always believed that religious calling for greatness. He actually had financially a better start than Garfield but where Garfield progressed and improved, Guiteau failed at everything.”
But Guiteau believed he had finally found a pathway to success: politics. Swept up in the events of the 1880 election, he prepared and gave an insignificant speech, and became convinced in his own mind that he was solely accountable for Garfield's victory.
Under this reasoning, Guiteau reckoned he had earned a important role. He travelled to Washington and continuously bothered Garfield, Blaine and other leaders, insisting to be made the diplomatic representative — a role for which he had no experience. He became such a annoyance that he was eventually excluded from the White House.
The Attack and Physician Mistakes
On 2 July 1881, just four months into his presidency, Garfield was traveling from DC for his alumni event. As he moved through the train depot, Guiteau appeared suddenly, produced an ivory-handled British Bull Dog revolver from his clothing and shot the president twice in the back.
Garfield cried out: “Why is this occurring?” and fell on the depot ground. When a {police officer|law
