Was James Garfield really a stand-up guy?
The show alludes to past problems in Garfield's marriage, and there's historical evidence suggesting a close friendship with Kate Sprague, the paramour of his political rival, Roscoe Conkling.
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The Tragic Murder of President James Garfield: Netflix's 'Death by Lightning' Unveiled | Ken Burns's 'The American Revolution': A Divided History? | How Climate-Driven Trade Introduced the Black Death to Europe | November 24th in History: Key Events and Anniversaries | Remembering JFK: 62nd Anniversary of the Assassination | Titanic Passenger's Pocket Watch Expected to Fetch £1m at Auction | Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution' Revisits the Country's Founding | The Enduring Legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald | Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution': A Deep Dive into the War Within | The Tragic Murder of President James Garfield: Netflix's 'Death by Lightning' Unveiled | Ken Burns's 'The American Revolution': A Divided History? | How Climate-Driven Trade Introduced the Black Death to Europe | November 24th in History: Key Events and Anniversaries | Remembering JFK: 62nd Anniversary of the Assassination | Titanic Passenger's Pocket Watch Expected to Fetch £1m at Auction | Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution' Revisits the Country's Founding | The Enduring Legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald | Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution': A Deep Dive into the War Within
History / US Presidents
The Tragic Murder of President James Garfield: Netflix's 'Death by Lightning' Unveiled
Netflix's new series, 'Death by Lightning,' delves into the tragic assassination of US President James Garfield in 1881. The series, based on Candice Millard's book 'Destiny of the Republic,' explores the political corruption and medical ma...
Key Insights
- **Garfield's Promising Agenda:** President Garfield aimed to reform civil service, expand trade with Latin America, and advocate for civil rights.
- **The Assassin's Delusion:** Charles Guiteau, driven by mental instability and a belief in the spoils system, assassinated Garfield after being denied a government position.
- **Medical Malpractice:** Garfield's death was significantly hastened by Dr. Wilfred Bliss's unsanitized medical practices, highlighting the lack of understanding of germ theory at the time.
- **Civil Service Reform:** Garfield's assassination spurred the passage of the Pendleton Act in 1883, which established merit-based standards for federal government employment. **Why this matters:** This act professionalized the federal bureaucracy, ensuring that government transactions were less influenced by personal politics.
- **Historical Accuracy:** While the series takes some artistic liberties, it remains largely faithful to historical events, emphasizing the insanity and unfathomable nature of 19th-century politics.
In-Depth Analysis
The series 'Death by Lightning' dramatizes the events leading up to and following Garfield's assassination. It contrasts Garfield's promising career with Guiteau's descent into madness. Key plot points include Guiteau's obsession with securing a political appointment, Garfield's progressive agenda clashing with political rivals like Roscoe Conkling, and the fatal medical mishandling of Garfield's wounds. The show also addresses the historical context of the era, including the lack of presidential security and the rudimentary understanding of germ theory.
The series highlights the political environment of the time, where anyone could walk into the White House and request an audience with the President. This lack of security, combined with Guiteau's mental instability, created the conditions for Garfield's assassination. The show also explores the impact of Garfield's death, which led to significant civil service reforms.
FAQ
Could people really just freely walk up to Senators and Presidents in the 1880s?
Yes, presidents didn't have security detail, and anyone could show up and have an audience with the president.
Was Guiteau's brain really kept by the government?
Yes, his brain was removed as a medical specimen and is stored at a military base in Maryland.
Was Garfield really killed by an infection caused by his doctors?
Yes, germ theory was not widely accepted at the time, and doctors did not sanitize medical tools, leading to a fatal infection.
Takeaways
- James Garfield's assassination was a pivotal moment in US history, leading to civil service reforms.
- The political climate of the 19th century was marked by corruption and a lack of security for political figures.
- Medical practices at the time were rudimentary, contributing to Garfield's death.
- 'Death by Lightning' offers an engaging and largely accurate portrayal of these events.
Discussion
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Sources
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