Destiny of the Republic (40 page)

Chapter 10: The Dark Dreams of Presidents

1
“like a flash”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 593.

2
“If the President was out of the way”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 428.

3
Guiteau was certain:
United States v. Guiteau
, 597.

4
“with renewed force”: Ibid., 593.

5
“no ill-will to the President”: Ibid., 215.

6
In fact, he believed that he had given: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 428.

7
“It seems to me that the only way”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 210.

8
“Until Saturday I supposed”: Ibid., 211.

9
“immediate resignation”: Ibid., 117.

10
“he should be quietly kept away”: Crook,
Through Five Administrations
, 266–67.

11
“That is the way I test the Diety”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 593.

12
“I kept reading the papers”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 428.

13
“the divinity of the inspiration”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 593.

14
“I thought just what”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 430.

15
“Two points will be accomplished”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 219.

16
“in proper shape”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 429.

17
“a new line of thought”: Guiteau,
The Truth
, preface.

18
“better than the Bible”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 677.

19
Even
The Truth
’s publication: Ibid., 581; Clark,
The Murder of James A. Garfield
, 22.

20
The next stage of Guiteau’s plan: “Eyewitness,”
American Heritage
, February/March 1980.

21
“did not call it by name”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 224.

22
Two days later, George Maynard: Ibid., 223, 224.

23
“He had a peculiar manner”: Ibid., 222.

24
Guiteau explained that he had received: Ibid., 220–22.

25
That same day, Guiteau returned: Ibid., 636.

26
“One of the strongest pistols made”: Ibid., 224–25.

27
After striking a deal with O’Meara: Ibid., 224.

28
“I knew nothing about it”: Ibid., 637.

29
“The Lord inspired me”: Ibid., 593.

30
“I wanted to see what kind”: Ibid., 701.

31
“I thought it was a very excellent jail”: Ibid., 701.

32
“It would not do to go”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 430.

33
“there could not possibly be”: Ibid.

34
A member of the Disciples of Christ: Two other presidents have also been members of the Disciples of Christ: Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan.

35
He had been an active and involved parishioner:
Foster, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement
, 349.

36
“a wise and holy purpose”: “A Pastor’s Tribute,”
New York Times
, August 19, 1881.

37
Guiteau knew exactly where Garfield’s church:
United States v. Guiteau
, 695.

38
“That,” he judged, “would be good chance”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 430.

39
“a very stupid sermon”: Garfield,
Diary
, June 12, 1881, 4:609.

40
“Next Sunday”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 430.

41
Before the next Sunday sermon: Ibid.

42
“we have concluded to take her”: Garfield,
Diary
, June 16, 1881, 4:610.

43
“I was all ready”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 431.

44
“intended to remove the President”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 216.

45
Garfield arrived back in Washington: Garfield,
Diary
, June 27, 1881, 4:617.

46
“sea air is too strong for her”: Ibid., June 28, 1881, 4:617.

47
On June 30: Taylor,
Garfield of Ohio
, 261–62; “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

48
“death-like stillness about me”: “Lincoln’s Faith in Dreams,”
New York Times
, April 7, 1898.

49
“an ugly dream”: Shenk,
Lincoln’s Melancholy
, 209.

50
“reveal God’s meaning in dreams”: “The Burden of the Presidency,”
New York Times
, September 25, 1881.

51
“I started to plunge”: Garfield,
Diary
, January 21, 1881, 4:531.

52
“as foolish as it does to you”: “The Burden of the Presidency,”
New York Times
, September 25, 1881.

53
The night after his cabinet meeting: Garfield,
Diary
, 4:614, n. 191.

54
“had never heard him speak”: “The Night Before the Shooting,”
New York Times
, July 20, 1881.

55
After Henry left: Garfield,
Diary
, 4:618–19, n. 206.

56
“let the matter drop”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 692.

57
When Garfield reached Blaine’s house: Hamilton,
Biography of James G. Blaine
, 516.

58
As he waited for Blaine: Harriet S. Blaine and Beale,
Letters of Mrs. James G. Blaine
, 215.

59
“Mr. Garfield had sold himself”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 694.

60
“engaged in the most earnest conversation”: Ibid., 694; Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 434.

61
“My mind”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 436.

Chapter 11: “A Desperate Deed”

1
“as if we were in fact two babies”: Comer,
Harry Garfield’s First Forty Years
, 55.

2
“You are President”: Hamilton,
Biography of James G. Blaine
, 516.

3
To his sons’ astonishment: Comer,
Harry Garfield’s First Forty Years
, 55.

4
“There are a few additional lines”: Quoted in Feis,
Mollie Garfield in the White House
, 67.

5
“The work of the campaign”: Stanley-Brown, “Memorandum Concerning Joseph Stanley-Brown’s Relations with General Garfield,” 11.

6
“the tact and ability”: “Mr. Rogers’ Successor,”
Washington Post
, March 17, 1881.

7
“perfectly master of the situation”: “Some Stylish Turn-Outs,”
Washington Post
, May 1, 1881.

8
“with an almost pathetic longing”: Stanley-Brown, “My Friend Garfield,” 100.

9
“Goodbye, my boy”: Ibid.; Stanley-Brown, “Memorandum Concerning Joseph Stanley-Brown’s Relations with General Garfield,” 12.

10
The small caravan: Peskin,
Garfield
, 595.

11
“in conscious enjoyment”: Hamilton,
Biography of James G. Blaine
, 516.

12
When he opened his eyes at 5:00 a.m.:
United States v. Guiteau
, 631.

13
After reading about the president’s trip: “Riggs House Is Demolished,”
Bryan Times
, July 18, 1911.

14
“I can’t do anything for you to-day”:
The Attempted Assassination of President Garfield
, 34–35.

15
It was too early for breakfast:
United States v. Guiteau
, 705.

16
“I ate well”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 437.

17
“To General Sherman”: Guiteau to William Tecumseh Sherman, Library of Congress;
United States v. Guiteau
, 217.

18
“You can print this entire book”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 217.

19
“The President’s tragic death”: Ibid., 215–16.

20
“nice, clean shirt”: Ibid., 142, 705.

21
Before stepping out the door: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 438; Clark,
The Murder of James A. Garfield
, 54.

22
Although he had taken his time: The station was razed in 1908, under the orders of President Theodore Roosevelt, and is now the site of the National Gallery of Art. B Street is now Constitution Avenue.

23
“Well, I will take you out there”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 438.

24
Approaching a newsstand, he asked:
United States v. Guiteau
, 186.

25
“Certainly”: Hayes and Hayes,
A Complete History
, 438; “Guiteau’s Murderous Plans,”
New York Times
, July 15, 1881.

26
“will wonder”: Belanger, “The Railroad in the Park,” 5–19.

27
“nuisance which ought long since”: Garfield,
Diary
, October 25, 1876, 3:370.

28
“I did not know, since that great sorrow”: Ibid., October 27, 1876, 3:371.

29
As the carriage carrying Garfield:
United States v. Guiteau
, 186.

30
“I did not think it was proper”: Ibid., 121.

31
As the two men ascended the steps: Ibid., 120, 186.

32
“absolutely free”: Theodore Clarke Smith,
The Life and Letters of James A. Garfield
, 46.

33
“He would look in one door”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 141.

34
“His teeth were clenched”: “The First Shot Struck the President,”
New York Times
, July 17, 1881.

35
Garfield had walked only a few steps: Clark,
The Murder of James A. Garfield
, 58.

36
“My God! What is this?”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 121.

37
“The expression on [his] face”: “The First Shot Struck the President,”
New York Times
, July 17, 1881.

38
Despite the wave of fear: The order in which Garfield was shot—first in his arm, then in his back—is described by Mollie Garfield in her diary, July 2, 1881, Library of Congress; also quoted in Feis,
Mollie Garfield in the White House
, 82.

39
The force thrust Garfield forward:
United States v. Guiteau
, 121; “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881; Ridpath,
The Life and Work of James A. Garfield
, 594;
United States v. Guiteau
, 151, 156.

Chapter 12: “Thank God It Is All Over”

1
“Catch him!”: “The First Shot Struck the President,”
New York Times
, July 17, 1881.

2
“blanched like that of a corpse”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 121;
The Attempted Assassination of President Garfield
, 43.

3
The first man to catch Guiteau: Melanson,
The Secret Service
, 24. A Secret Service agent happened to be standing nearby, but did nothing to help. Later that day, he would mention in his daily report that he had noticed a strange commotion at the station that morning.

4
Officer Kearney, who had exchanged:
United States v. Guiteau
, 186.

5
“I truly believe”:
The Attempted Assassination of President Garfield
, 46.

6
“in his eyes”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 149, 187.

7
“I have a letter”: Ibid., 180–81.

8
The men who had arrested Guiteau: Ibid., 171, 188; “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

9
“I did not expect to go through”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 702.

10
“You stick to me”: “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

11
“haunted and haunted”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 601.

12
“Keep back!”: Rockwell, “Garfield’s Assassination.”

13
“was very pale”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 159.

14
“very hard”: Ibid.

15
Watching Smith struggle : Ibid., 141.

16
As tears streamed down White’s face: Ibid., 145.

17
Although it seemed to everyone: “The Assassination of President Garfield,” National Museum of Health and Medicine, 1; Reyburn,
Clinical History of the Case of President James Abram Garfield
, 7.

18
Just five minutes after the shooting: Reyburn,
Clinical History of the Case of President James Abram Garfield
, 11.

19
Townsend’s first concern: Bliss et al., “Record of the Post-mortem Examination of the Body of President J. A. Garfield,” 2.

20
When Garfield was alert enough: “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

21
After he made his initial examination: Ibid.

22
A group of men who worked: Rutkow,
James A. Garfield
, 84.

23
As they lifted the president:
The Attempted Assassination of President Garfield
, 44; Rockwell, “Garfield’s Assassination.”

24
“I think you had better telegraph to Crete”: Rockwell, “Garfield’s Assassination.”

25
“I recognized the man”:
United States v. Guiteau
, 122.

26
Although he was only thirty-nine:
Medicine.howard.edu
;
encyclopedia.jrank.org
.

27
Now, as he leaned over Garfield: Bliss’s notes, p. 3, archives of the National Museum of Health and Medicine

28
“the calmest man in the room”: Robert Todd Lincoln to a friend, July 28, 1881, Library of Congress.

29
“One chance in a hundred”: “Some Hope at Midnight,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

30
“My God,” he murmured: “A Great Nation in Grief,”
New York Times
, July 3, 1881.

31
Suddenly, Lincoln decided: “Dr. Bliss’s Authority,”
National Republic
, July 4, 1882.

32
“an earnest, industrious boy”: Paulson, “Death of a President and His Assassin,”
Journal of the History of the Neurosciences
(2006): 80.

33
Years later, when he was a congressman: Kaufman,
Homeopathy in America
, 88–90; “Who the Doctors Are,”
Washington Post
, July 5, 1881.

34
In the end, Bliss could not hold up: Soper, “Dr. Willard Bliss.”

35
Although it seemed that his occupation: “How Dr. Bliss Got His Name,”
New York Times
, July 9, 1881. After Bliss was born, the nurses attending his mother suggested that she name her son after the man who had delivered him—Dr. Willard. Bliss’s mother, taking the suggestion perhaps a little too literally, named her child Doctor Willard Bliss.

36
While at the Armory Square Hospital: Soper, “Dr. Willard Bliss.”

37
“Cundurango!”: Ibid.

38
As soon as Bliss arrived: Bliss et al., “Record of the Post-mortem Examination of the Body of President J. A. Garfield,” 1–2.

39
“In attempting to withdraw the probe”: Ibid., 2.

40
“what appeared to be lacerated tissue”: Ibid.

41
“downward and forward”: Ibid.; Ackerman,
Dark Horse
.