James A. Garfield

James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States (1881), and the second U.S. President to be assassinated. His term was the second shortest in U.S. history, after William Henry Harrison's. Holding office from March to September of 1881, President Garfield was in office for a total of just six months and fifteen days.

Presidency

In 1880, Garfield's life underwent tremendous change with the publication of the Morey letter, and the end of Democratic U.S. Senator Allen Granberry Thurman's term. The Ohio legislature, which had recently again come under Republican control, chose Garfield as his replacement, commencing in 1881. He would never serve a day in the Senate, however.

Related Topics:
1880 - Morey letter - Democratic - Allen Granberry Thurman's - Legislature - Republican - 1881 - Senate

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Later that year at their presidential nominating convention, the Republicans were split between former President Ulysses S. Grant, Maine's James G. Blaine, and Secretary of the Treasury John Sherman, a fellow Ohioan. Garfield strongly supported Sherman and made a speech formally nominating him, but early balloting made it clear that Sherman would not be the nominee.

Related Topics:
Presidential nominating convention - Ulysses S. Grant - Maine - Secretary of the Treasury - John Sherman - Ohioan

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With neither Grant, Blaine nor Sherman able to win a majority of delegates after the first day of balloting, on the first ballot of the second day (and 34th overall) Wisconsin's delegation suddenly shifted all its votes to Garfield, who was aghast at the thought that he might be trying to thwart his friend Sherman's effort. The 35th ballot saw an even greater groundswell of support from former Blaine and Sherman supporters (Grant's supporters remained unanimously behind the former President), and on the 36th ballot Garfield was nominated, with virtually all of Blaine and Sherman's delegates breaking ranks to vote for the dark horse nominee. Ironically, the U.S. Senate seat to which Garfield had been chosen ultimately went to John Sherman, whose presidential candidacy Garfield had gone to the convention to support.

Related Topics:
Wisconsin - Dark horse - John Sherman

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Garfield defeated the Democratic candidate, Winfield Scott Hancock, another distinguished former Union Army general, by 214 electoral votes to 155. (The popular vote was much closer; see U.S. presidential election, 1880). President Garfield took office on March 4, 1881. During his administration, Garfield did his best to mediate Republican Party infighting. Garfield was a leader of the "Half-Breeds," who supported civil service reform and Hayes's relatively lenient treatment of the postwar South. His Vice President, Chester A. Arthur of New York, was a member of the "Stalwarts," who advocated the retention of the patronage system and a tougher stance regarding the former Confederate states.

Related Topics:
Democratic - Winfield Scott Hancock - U.S. presidential election, 1880 - March 4 - 1881 - Half-Breeds - Civil service - Vice President - Chester A. Arthur - New York - Stalwarts - Patronage

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Cabinet

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Supreme Court appointments

In his brief term in office, Garfield appointed a single Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States:

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• Stanley Matthews - 1881