“Of course I deprecate war,” he wrote, “but if it is brought to my door the bringer will find me at home.”–James Garfield, Destiny of the Republic
This is one of my all time favorite books. I’ll admit the only thing I knew about James Garfield was that he had been shot but after reading this book, he became one of my favorite presidents. His rise from poverty to unlikely presidential nominee is inspiring. He was not without flaws but his goodness, humanity, and humility gave him the tools to become a remarkable president. He was the one candidate the north and south could support and his vision for uniting the country gave hope for the future
Unfortunately, four months after being sworn in as president, he was shot in the back by the deranged Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the assassination attempt, but became the victim of a behind the scenes bid for power and influence that extended even to his medical care. His death was devastating for the country and meant that the inept and woefully unprepared Chester Arthur became president.
Candace Millard’s research is meticulous and the interweaving stories of Garfield, Charles Guiteau, Alexander Graham Bell, and Joseph Lister makes for fascinating reading.
Content Advisory: Death, mental illness