ELECTION OF 1880 For the Republicans: Hayes retires after one term Grant wants to come back and be president… Grant receives support from Stalwarts (conservatives) John Sherman & James Blaine split the ½ Breeds (moderates) James A. Garfield will become the compromise candidate Chester Arthur will run as VP to please Stalwarts… For the Democrats: Winfield Hancock from Pennsylvania. West Point graduate War Hero…stops Pickett's Charge

JAMES A. GARFIELD Republican WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK Democrat Lackluster campaign… They differed very little on the issues Garfield gets support from Roscoe Conkling who was in charge of the Stalwarts

Results of the Election of 1880 GARFIELDHANCOCK Electoral Vote: States Carried: Popular Vote: 4,446,158 4,444,260 Percent of Vote: 48.3% 48.2% JAMES GARFIELD BECOMES THE 20 TH PRESIDENT

Info on President James Garfield: Born: November 19, 1831 in a Log Cabin near Cleveland, Ohio Physical Description: 6’ 185 pounds… Big head & left handed Personality: A toucher, like to give hugs. Great speaker. Placed career in the hands of destiny!!! Recreation: Hunting & fishing, loved chess, euchre, & billiards Moderate drinker and a avid reader

Early childhood of James Garfield: His father was a farmer and a champion wrestler… Helps build the Erie Canal. Dies of a cold when James was 18 months old. His mother Eliza is who James credits his success… 1 st mother of a president to attend her son’s inauguration and will out live her son by 7 years. Education: Graduates with honors from Williams College (Mass.) Thinks about becoming a minister, but becomes a teacher Marriage: Lurcetia “Crete” Rudolph on November 11, Both were 26 years old. They will 4 sons & 1 daughter Others: Affair with a Mrs. Calhoun… Wife forgives him!

Career before President: Teacher, Passes the Bar in 1860 (studies on his own) Ohio State Senator ( ) Lincoln supporter, praises John Brown, Anti-slavery, Pro-War Soldier in Civil War… goes from Lt. Colonel to General US Representative ( ) Radical Republican, voted to impeach Pres. Johnson, supported Grant as President, implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal (no damage) supported Hayes as President In 1880 elected to the Senate but declines when he becomes President of the United States. As a Lawyer he will do his 1 st court case in front of the Supreme Court (1 st attorney to do so) Ex Parte Milligan

GARFIELD’S ADMINISTRATION: Will only last from March 4 th to September 19 th Garfield and Conkling fight over political jobs… Garfield wins and breaks Conkling political powers 2. Star Route Scandal: 1 st week as President, Garfield has mail route contracts checked…finds major corruption. Orders investigators to turn everyone in…many from the Republican party…Reason why he wanted Civil Service Reform..

President Garfield’s Assassination: When: July 2, :30 AM in Washington DC Who: Charles Guiteau (39 years old)

PRESIDENT GARFIELD’S ASSASSINATION Charles Guiteau will stalk the President for weeks, 3 times he backs down, finally on July 2 he shoots the President 2 times. 1 bullet grazed his arm the other enters his lower back and lodges near his pancreas.

GARFIELD’S ASSASSINATION: Guiteau purchased this gun to kill President Garfield because he liked the way it looked and said it would look good in a museum… Reason why he shot Garfield??? He was mad that he did not get a political job… He had no ill will against the President, he said Garfield’s death was a political necessity… "I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts... Arthur is president now!!” Why President Garfield died: Blood poisoning from probing for the bullet... Garfield dies on September 19 th 1881 Charles Guiteau will be hanged on June 30, 1882… He will write a letter to President Arthur saying he should appreciate what he did for him… He said it was an act of God!!! Before he was hanged, he read from the Bible and sang a song he wrote: “I am going to the Lordy, I am so glad”…

GARFIELD’S TOMB Cleveland, Ohio