American Experience

Murder of a President

The story of James Garfield, one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president, and his assassination by a deluded madman named Charles Guiteau. Follow Garfield's unprecedented rise to power, his shooting only four months into his presidency, and its bizarre and heartbreaking aftermath. The two-hour film is based on Candice Millard's bestselling and award-winning Destiny of the Republic.

Garfield on the Enemy: Racial Inequality

2m 33s

In the only major speech of his presidential campaign, Garfield spoke to 50,000 in New York on the issue closest to his heart: the fate of ex-slaves in the South. Many Northerners felt they had sacrificed enough for African Americans but Garfield believed that every man in America, no matter his color, had a say in the government.

Previews + Extras

  • Garfield on the Enemy: Presidential Protection: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Garfield on the Enemy: Presidential Protection

    S28 E4 - 2m 20s

    Despite Lincoln's assassination in 1865, there were no new safeguards put in to protect the president from would-be assassins. Lincoln's murder had been seen as an anomaly.

  • Garfield and Lying: The Conkling Problem: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Garfield and Lying: The Conkling Problem

    S28 E4 - 2m 39s

    Garfield knew he had to secure New York to win the presidency - but that meant negotiating with Roscoe Conkling and the Stalwarts. Avoiding any specific promises, Garfield met with Conkling's underlings to try and clinch their support.

  • Garfield's First Lady: Lucretia: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Garfield's First Lady: Lucretia

    S28 E4 - 1m 43s

    The death of their three-year-old daughter and Garfield's affair in New York threatened to tear Lucretia and James apart. But the future First Lady's steadfastness and unwavering moral compass showed Garfield how to be a better man.

  • Garfield and Military Service: Committed to the Cause: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Garfield and Military Service: Committed to the Cause

    S28 E4 - 2m 58s

    James Garfield joined the Union Army in 1861, shortly after the start of hostilities. When he came face to face with slavery during his time fighting in the south, Garfield's belief in the cause of abolition and freedom was strengthened. "This is my hope," he wrote, "that when we shall return to civil life, there shall go up an unrelenting cry for freedom."

  • Garfield and Unity: Machine Politics: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Garfield and Unity: Machine Politics

    S28 E4 - 2m 59s

    Factions in the Republican party were breeding corruption, so Garfield worked to nominate James Blaine to combat the machine politics of the Stalwarts. But when Garfield delivered his speech to the Republican Convention to back Blaine, the crowd chanted that it was Garfield they wanted for president instead.

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