Assassination of President James A. Garfield

Assassination of President James A. Garfield. The President of the United States, James A. Garfield, was shot by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2, 1881, at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., while waiting to board a train to New Jersey. This event led to a significant shift in the United States Secret Service's role, as they began to focus more on protecting the President of the United States, similar to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's protection of the Monarchy of Canada. The assassination also drew comparisons to the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, which occurred just 16 years prior, and the Assassination of William McKinley, which would occur 20 years later, highlighting the need for increased security measures, as advocated by Robert Todd Lincoln and Ida Saxton McKinley.

● Introduction

The Assassination of President James A. Garfield was a pivotal moment in United States history, marking the second time a President of the United States was assassinated, following the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. This event occurred during a time of great change, with the Industrial Revolution in full swing, and the Women's suffrage movement gaining momentum, led by figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The assassination also drew attention to the Mental health of the perpetrator, Charles J. Guiteau, who had a history of Mental illness, similar to John Hinckley Jr., who would later attempt to assassinate Ronald Reagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would later investigate similar cases, including the Assassination of John F. Kennedy, which was also carried out by a lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald.

● Background

James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his death on September 19, 1881. He was a member of the Republican Party and had previously served in the United States House of Representatives, where he was a strong supporter of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 and the Ku Klux Klan Act. Charles J. Guiteau, on the other hand, was a disgruntled Lawyer and Writer who had been seeking a position in the Garfield administration, specifically as Ambassador to France or Consul to Paris, but was repeatedly rejected, leading to a deep-seated resentment towards the President of the United States. This rejection was similar to the experiences of Richard Nixon, who was also rejected for a position on the Supreme Court of the United States.

● Assassination

On July 2, 1881, James A. Garfield arrived at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., where he was scheduled to board a train to New Jersey to attend a Commencement ceremony at Williams College. As he walked through the station, Charles J. Guiteau approached him and shot him twice, once in the back and once in the arm, using a British Bull Dog revolver. The United States Secret Service was not yet responsible for protecting the President of the United States at the time, but Robert Todd Lincoln, who was present at the station, immediately took charge and helped to apprehend Charles J. Guiteau. The New York Times and the Washington Post both reported on the assassination, with the New York Times describing it as a "dastardly crime" and the Washington Post calling for increased security measures to protect the President of the United States.

● Aftermath

After the assassination, James A. Garfield was taken to the White House, where he received medical attention from Doctor Willard Bliss and other physicians, including Doctor Robert Reyburn and Doctor D. Willard Bliss. Despite their efforts, James A. Garfield's condition continued to deteriorate, and he eventually died on September 19, 1881, at the Elberon, New Jersey home of Franklyn and Mary Arthur, due to complications from his injuries and Infection. The United States Congress later passed the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which reformed the Civil service system and reduced the power of Patronage in the Federal government of the United States, a cause that James A. Garfield had championed during his presidency. The National Park Service would later commemorate the site of the assassination with a Historic marker, similar to those found at the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Lincoln Memorial.

● Investigation and Trial

The investigation into the assassination was led by the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Charles J. Guiteau was arrested at the scene and later tried for the assassination, with his defense team arguing that he was insane at the time of the crime, a claim that was supported by Psychiatrist Allan McLane Hamilton. However, the prosecution, led by District Attorney George Corkhill, argued that Charles J. Guiteau was sane and had acted with Malice aforethought. The trial was widely covered in the media, including the New York Herald and the Chicago Tribune, and Charles J. Guiteau was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death, with his execution taking place on June 30, 1882, at the United States Penitentiary, Washington, D.C..

● Legacy

The Assassination of President James A. Garfield had a significant impact on the United States, leading to increased security measures for the President of the United States and a greater awareness of the need for Mental health services. The United States Secret Service was formally authorized to protect the President of the United States in 1902, following the Assassination of William McKinley, and has since become a key component of the Executive protection system, working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Marshals Service. The James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor, Ohio commemorates the life and legacy of the 20th President of the United States, and the Garfield Memorial in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio serves as a tribute to his memory, similar to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the Grant's Tomb in New York City. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) also maintains a collection of documents related to the assassination, including the Diary of James A. Garfield and the Trial transcript of Charles J. Guiteau.

Category:Assassinations in the United States