The Real Story Behind Netflix
The new limited series portrays the short presidency of the 20th U.S. commander in chief, James A. Garfield, who was tragically assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau — a lawyer convinced that he had played a crucial role in Garfield's election victory.
Guiteau’s Misguided Ambition
Before the 1880 Republican National Convention, 39-year-old lawyer Charles J. Guiteau was distributing printed copies of a speech he had written. Originally, it supported Ulysses S. Grant, the frontrunner for a third presidential term. However, when Grant failed to secure enough votes, Guiteau simply replaced Grant’s name with Garfield’s, believing his speech was persuasive enough to help either man win.
The Election and Its Aftermath
Garfield, then newly elected to the U.S. Senate from Ohio, went on to narrowly defeat Democratic candidate and Civil War general Winfield Scott Hancock. Convinced that his oratory had swayed the outcome, Guiteau expected a reward for his self-proclaimed contribution.
Unfulfilled Expectations
“I hereby make a formal application for the Austrian Mission,” Guiteau wrote to President 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.”
His request went unanswered. Garfield and Blaine had no idea who Guiteau was, and the supposed favor he expected was based solely on his own delusions of influence.
Author’s Summary
This story captures how Charles J. Guiteau’s obsession with recognition led to one of the most tragic and misguided acts in American political history.