The Real Story Behind Netflix
Ambition and Disillusionment
The new limited series explores the short presidency of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. president, whose life was cut short by the bullet of Charles J. Guiteau. Guiteau, a lawyer convinced he had played a pivotal role in Garfield’s rise, believed his efforts during the 1880 campaign entitled him to a diplomatic post.
The Origins of a Misguided Belief
Before the Republican National Convention of 1880, 39-year-old Guiteau printed and distributed copies of a political speech supporting the party’s presumed front-runner, former President Ulysses S. Grant. When Grant failed to gain enough votes for another nomination, Guiteau replaced Grant’s name with Garfield’s, insisting his oratory could ensure victory for any candidate.
Garfield’s Unexpected Win
Garfield, then a senator-elect from Ohio, ultimately became the Republican nominee and narrowly defeated Democratic general Winfield Scott Hancock in the general election. Guiteau viewed the win as proof of his influence and began to demand a reward for what he considered his crucial contribution to Garfield’s success.
Unfulfilled Expectations
“I hereby make a formal application for the Austrian Mission,” Guiteau wrote to Garfield and Secretary of State James G. Blaine. “I feel I have a right to do it on account of my services during the canvass.”
Despite his confident tone, his request went unanswered. Neither Garfield nor Blaine had any idea who Guiteau was, leaving his ambition to crumble into resentment and delusion.
Author’s Summary
Guiteau’s misplaced ambition and self-deception turned his pursuit of recognition into one of American history’s most tragic and bizarre assassinations.