What I Learned Today: The Assasination of President James A. Garfield

I didn't know much about President James Garfield, so I did what every seeker of knowledge does: search the internet to learn more. What I found was surprising: James Garfield was president for only 10 months before he was gunned down by a disgruntled reject.

Born in an Ohio log cabin, Garfield was a self-made man who became a school president in his mid-20s. During the U.S. Civil War (1861-65), he fought for the Union and rose to the rank of major general. Garfield, a Republican, went on to represent his home state in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1863 to 1881. In 1880, a divided Republican Party chose Garfield as its dark horse presidential nominee. After winning the general election, his brief time in office was marked by political wrangling. In July 1881, Garfield was shot by a disgruntled constituent and died less than three months later. Source

The Disgruntled Constituent

Charles J. Guiteau, the Assasin of James Garfield, was a member (for a time) of the Oneida community. He wanted to help bring about a world-wide "Utopian" society of communism.

Does anyone else think this guy looks like a psychopath?

Charles Guiteau was very active in politics, campaigning for Ulysses S Grant, believing the Union Army General could help usher in this new world Utopia. He wrote a speech supporting Grant and distributed it to 100's of people on the streets. When it became apparent that Grant was loosing to Garfield, he edited the speech to say "Garfield" instead of "Grant".

When Garfield won the presidency, Guiteau was convinced (in his own deluded mind) that Garfield won because of his compelling speech.

Guiteau believed he should be awarded a diplomatic post for his supposedly vital assistance, first asking for a consulship in Vienna, then expressing a willingness to "settle" for one in Paris. He loitered around Republican headquarters in New York City, expecting rewards for his speech, to no avail. Still believing he would be rewarded, Guiteau arrived in Washington on March 5, 1881, the day after Garfield's inauguration. He obtained entrance to the White House and saw the President on March 8, 1881, dropping off a copy of his speech as a reminder of the campaign work he had supposedly done on Garfield's behalf. Source

Charles Guiteau spent his days petitioning the State department and White House for a high-level government position, fully convinced that he had influenced the election. He became increasingly disheveled and did not bath for weeks. Eventually the politicians would refuse to speak with him.

Something Snapped in this Man's Head

At this point, Guiteau began claiming that a higher power had commanded him to kill the (supposedly) ungrateful president. He borrowed $15 from a relative for a weapon to carry out this mission.

Guiteau went out to purchase a revolver. He knew little about firearms, but believed he would need a large caliber gun. While at O'Meara's store in Washington, he had the choice between two versions of the .442 Webley caliber British Bulldog revolver, one with a wooden grip and another with an ivory grip; he chose the one with the ivory handle because he thought it would look better as a museum exhibit after the assassination. Source

Guiteau waited until Garfield was leaving for vacation. He approached him from behind and fired twice.

As Garfield entered the waiting room of the station, Guiteau stepped forward and pulled the trigger from behind at point-blank range. Garfield cried out, "My God, what is that?", flinging up his arms. Guiteau fired again and Garfield collapsed. One bullet grazed the President's shoulder, and the other struck him in the back, passing the first lumbar vertebra but missing the spinal cord before coming to rest behind his pancreas. Source

Garfield Would have Survived

Garfield was brought to an upper room at the train station, still with a bullet lodged in his body. It was likely due to the unsanitary condition of the train station floor and multiple doctors probing the bullet hole wound with their unwashed hands and metal devices, trying to extract the bullet, that caused the infections that terminated the life of President Garfield.

One Doctor ultimately caused the assassination to be successful. Literally. A man named "Doctor Willard Bliss" was called to Garfield's aid when Garfield was brought to the White House. He became the self-appointed doctor, supplanting Garfield's usual physician, and was unsuccessful in treating him to recovery. He was so focused on removing the bullet, that he ignored all the signs of infection. Garfield died 79 days after the shooting, due to blood poisoning and bronchial pneumonia.

Guiteau's Trial and Execution

Guteau claimed that while he was legally insane he was not medically insane. He claimed that he was not guilty because the murder was the will of God. He claimed (accurately) that it was not actually him that killed Garfield, but that he died of medical malpractice. He said "I deny the killing, if your honor please. We admit the shooting."

The jury was not convinced of his defense and he was sentenced to hanging. At his execution, it is remembered that he danced up to the gallows and waved to the audience from the scaffold. He shook hands with the executioner and requested to read a poem to the audience.

Before reciting his poem, Guiteau stated, “I am now going to read some verses which are intended to indicate my feelings at the moment of leaving this world. If set to music they may be rendered very effective." Source

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I hope you enjoyed what I've shared learning today. What did you learn today? Let me know in the comments.

Benjamin Turner: God fearer. Rooted in Messiah. Husband of @lturner. Father of four wonderful children. The guy behind the camera. Steemit enthusiast.

Bless the Most High!