Politics in the Gilded Age: James A. Garfield

In the 1876 presidential election, there was much controversy surrounding the outcome, with a compromise made to allow Republican Rutherford B. Hayes to become president over Samuel J. Tilden, who may have actually won the election, but three disputed states all went to Hayes. By the time of the 1880 election, Hayes had made it clear that he was not going to seek the nomination, and Ulysses S. Grant was seeking a third term. Having traveled to Europe after his presidency through the late 1870's, Grant had regained much of his popularity and was considering a run at a third term. James A. Garfield was relatively unknown, but made a favorable impression on the convention during a nomination speech for another candidate. With the convention deadlocked between two factions, one known as the Stalwarts, the nomination went to Garfield. As a compromise, Chester A. Arthur, one of the Stalwart members, was chosen to run with Garfield as the vice presidential nominee. Garfield won a close election over Democrat Winfield S. Hancock, a popular war hero, whom I will write about in the next blog. Garfield's presidency was cut short, and he really only served four months. As Garfield was leaving a train station, he was shot at close range. The bullet did not do significant damage, but the doctors could not locate the bullet, and Garfield was incapacitated for almost three months before dying in September of 1881, six months into his term. Garfield died a martyr, and his death stunned the nation. This particular item is two separate prints from 1881, one of Garfield and one of his wife, Lucretia. Items like this are affordable and often less than $25 in this condition. I have some other Garfield items also.