The Real Story Behind Netflix
A Dramatization of President Garfield’s Short Tenure
The new limited series portrays the turbulent and brief presidency of the 20th U.S. commander in chief, James A. Garfield, who was tragically shot by Charles J. Guiteau—a lawyer convinced that he played a vital role in Garfield’s election victory.
Guiteau’s Political Delusion
Before the 1880 presidential election, 39-year-old attorney Charles J. Guiteau tirelessly distributed printed copies of his campaign speech to anyone willing to listen. His address was initially written to support Ulysses S. Grant, a two-time former president and favorite to secure the Republican nomination yet again. However, when Grant failed to gather enough delegate votes, recently elected Senator James A. Garfield from Ohio emerged as a compromise candidate.
Unbothered by the change, Guiteau simply replaced Grant’s name with Garfield’s, convinced that his oratory genius would ensure either man’s victory. Ultimately, Garfield won the election, narrowly defeating Democratic candidate and fellow Civil War general Winfield Scott Hancock.
The Expectation of Reward
Following Garfield’s success, Guiteau felt entitled to a position within the new administration. He believed the president owed him a prestigious diplomatic post in recognition of his “campaign services.”
“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.”
Yet his request went unanswered. Garfield and Blaine had never heard of him, and Guiteau’s supposed contributions existed only in his imagination.
Author’s Summary
The series sheds light on Charles Guiteau’s tragic delusion and its fatal impact on President Garfield’s brief leadership, blending fact with dramatic storytelling.