The Presidents #20: James Garfield - Democratic Underground

Ardent15

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Fri Apr-02-10 09:03 PM
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The Presidents #20: James Garfield

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Garfield

Discuss him and his brief Presidency.

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Captain Hilts

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Fri Apr-02-10 09:06 PM
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1. Shot at the B&O station where the Corcoran gallery now is located, NOT Union Station. nt

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Commie Pinko Dirtbag

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Fri Apr-02-10 09:06 PM
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2. I think his obsession with lasagna hindered his administration. -nt

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Dr Morbius

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Fri Apr-02-10 09:28 PM
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3. He should have survived the bullet.

Edited on Fri Apr-02-10 09:28 PM by Dr Morbius

But no one had thought to make sure the President had competent medical attention. Kind of a tragedy, too. I've read a biography of Garfield, and he was a decent man who probably would have been a fine President for four years had it not been for the unhinged Charles Guiteau.

There's a statue of Garfield in Washington.

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Alexander

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Fri Apr-02-10 09:59 PM
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4. He could write in Latin with one hand and Greek with the other.

This was a guy who grew up in abject poverty.

People back then compared him to Lincoln and Washington - even before he was shot.

I think it's a great tragedy that we'll never know what kind of presidency he would've had.

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liberalmuse

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Fri Apr-02-10 10:03 PM
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5. I visited his house in Ohio.

It was pretty interesting. That's all I have to contribute to this discussion.

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SemiCharmedQuark

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Fri Apr-02-10 10:40 PM
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6. I saw part of Charles Guiteau's brain in Philadelphia

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Phoonzang

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Fri Apr-02-10 11:10 PM
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7. He might have been a good president.

Probably the most liberal President of the 19th century actually...

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Faygo Kid

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Fri Apr-02-10 11:25 PM
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8. Yes, he held great promise. A decent man who left us too soon.

Arthur is underrated, though.

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Drunken Irishman

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Sat Apr-03-10 12:36 AM
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9. A county here in Utah is named after him. As was a school in Salt Lake City.

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Kurt_and_Hunter

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Sat Apr-03-10 08:11 AM
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10. ...

Edited on Sat Apr-03-10 08:14 AM by Kurt_and_Hunter

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The_Commonist

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Sat Apr-03-10 11:27 AM
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11. Too bad he didn't live longer...

He was a decent fellow.
He might have been a fine president, given a chance.
He was the only member of the clergy to serve as president.
Didn't have time to accomplish much, a few judicial appointments is about it.

I thought this bit of trivia was interesting - "Garfield is the only person in U.S. history to be a Representative, Senator-elect, and President-elect at the same time. To date, he is the only Representative to be directly elected President of the United States."

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