From Poverty to the Presidency

“Throughout the nation and the world, [Garfield’s] extraordinary rise from fatherlessness and abject poverty would make him the embodiment of the American dream” (22).

The Book

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard layers the biography of President James A. Garfield with the political spoils system, the sad tale of Charles Guiteau, the inventive mind of Alexander Graham Bell, and the American medical system. It is a lot to cover in one book, but the reader soon discovers how each of these is intrinsically intertwined. 

Two years after Garfield was born, in a one-room log cabin, his father died. His mother and three older siblings sacrificed so that Garfield could have a good education. His education led to the presidency of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute and then a career in politics. When the Civil War began, Garfield’s strong abolitionist views propelled him to form his own regiment to fight for the Union. He preferred to stay in the Army but was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1862. Despite Garfield’s success, at heart he was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his children. He was big-hearted, cheerful, and had an infectious laugh. 

Garfield’s nomination for the presidency could be considered a fluke. His speech to nominate John Sherman ended with his own nomination, a tenuous compromise in the midst of the political spoils system. Hundreds traveled to his Lawnfield home to hear speeches delivered from his front porch. After winning the presidential election in 1880, Garfield felt a sense of loss for how his life would change. From March 1880-July 1880, he struggled to anchor his presidency amid political pressure and family illness. Just when it seemed like he could govern, he was shot by Charles Guiteau. Guiteau, like many others, felt that he was owed a job in government. This delusion only exacerbated his insanity and led to a belief that God wanted Garfield dead. 

The bullet wounds themselves were not fatal. Unfortunately, the constant probing of the wound by unsanitary instruments and fingers introduced infection into Garfield’s bloodstream. At one point, Alexander Graham Bell attempted to locate the bullet with an early version of the X-ray machine; he only failed because the head doctor limited where Bell could look. Over the course of three months, Garfield’s robust health deteriorated; yet, “even as he lay dying, Garfield was kind, patient, cheerful, and deeply grateful” (263). On September 19, Garfield died. 

Throughout Destiny of the Republic, Millard visually describes locales, conjuring up sights, sounds, and smells for her readers. She places Garfield, his family, friends, and contemporaries within the scenes and incorporates news reports. The visual descriptions are supplemented by Garfield’s own writings (which are forefront), as well as reflections from his family and contemporaries. The largest segment of the book focuses on the shooting of Garfield and the aftermath. The timeline slows, but the pace of the narrative quickens to a play by play. Some of the medical details may be a bit uncomfortable for some readers; I squirmed a bit while reading them. Readers will most likely walk away from this book with two reflections: America lost out on seeing what Garfield could do as president and Garfield would have survived if it weren’t for the obstinance of his doctors. Millard proposes that Garfield’s lasting legacy was the unification of Americans in grief, 2o years after the Civil War, and civil service reform.

The Place

Visitors to the Cleveland area can embark on the President Garfield cradle to grave tour. In one day, you can span the lifetime of our twentieth president and learn about the events that shaped his life and character.

First, is a replica of Garfield’s birthplace in Moreland Hills. The interior is open by appointment only and admission is free. The visit won’t last more than a half hour. Inside, visitors will find one room that reflects the poor nature of Garfield’s upbringing. A short walk through the woods leads to a clearing where the original log cabin stood. 

Second, is the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, or Lawnfield, in Mentor. This is the farm James and Lucretia Garfield purchased in 1876 for their family. Here visitors can tour the home, carefully preserved as it looked when the Garfield family lived there, see the memorial Lucretia built for James (including the first presidential library), and learn more at the museum. The site is open daily May through October and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday November through April. Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to register for house tours in advance.

 
Last, is Lake View Cemetery, in Cleveland. The James A. Garfield Memorial dominates the cemetery, as testimony to the high regard the people of Cleveland had for Garfield. The interior is open Wednesday through Sunday from May to October, 10am-4pm, and admission is free. It is worth it to take time walking around the main floor, the second floor, and the crypt.