Netflix’s ‘Death by Lightning’ Reopens the Shocking Assassination of President James A. Garfield
The Netflix mini-series Death by Lightning explores the political intrigue, personal pride, and medical errors that transformed President James A. Garfield’s fight for reform into a largely forgotten tragedy.
The Story of President Garfield
The show follows the life and death of the 20th U.S. president, portrayed by Michael Shannon. It covers Garfield’s unexpected nomination as the Republican candidate and his narrow victory in the 1880 presidential election.
The Assassination
In July 1881, just months into his term, Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau (played by Matthew Macfadyen), an office-seeker who believed he deserved a government position for supporting Garfield during the campaign.
Guiteau’s expectation was rooted in the patronage system prevalent at the time. However, Garfield opposed this practice, advocating for civil service reform and merit-based appointments.
After being denied a job, Guiteau resorted to assassination to remove Garfield from office, which led to Vice President Chester A. Arthur (Nick Offerman) becoming the 21st president.
Reform and Legacy
“The idea of civil service reform and waging a battle to clean up the grift in our government—this is something that Garfield very much stood on the front lines of in his time,” said Mike Makowsky, creator of Death by Lightning, in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum.
This series highlights Garfield’s determined stand against corruption and his role as a pivotal figure in government reform.
Author’s summary: The series sheds light on Garfield’s overlooked legacy as a reformer, revealing the political and personal forces behind his assassination and its impact on U.S. history.
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