The tragic death of President James Garfield

CBS Sunday Morning

24 May 201607:42

Summary

TLDRThis script recounts the tragic assassination of President James A. Garfield, a brilliant man born into poverty who rose to the presidency. Despite surviving the initial shooting, Garfield succumbed to infection due to the unsterilized practices of doctors who probed his wounds. The incident led to significant medical reforms and a national unity that bridged the post-Civil War divide. The assassin, Charles Guiteau, was executed, and his delusional belief that he would be celebrated for his act was shattered.

Takeaways

🇺🇸 Four U.S. Presidents have been assassinated: Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, William McKinley, and James A. Garfield.
🏛️ James A. Garfield's assassination is less well-known despite his extraordinary background and achievements.
📚 Garfield was born into poverty and worked his way up from janitor to college president, showcasing his brilliant mind.
🎓 He was a self-made man who put himself through college and became a professor of literature and ancient languages.
🔫 Charles J. Guiteau, the assassin, was a delusional and grandiose office-seeker who had failed at everything he tried.
🗓️ Guiteau believed he had a divine message to kill the president, leading to the shooting on July 2, 1881.
🚂 The assassination attempt took place at a train station, where Garfield was shot but not immediately killed.
🩺 The medical treatment Garfield received was inadequate, with unsterilized fingers and instruments used to probe his wounds.
🌐 The lack of belief in germ theory among American doctors at the time contributed to Garfield's eventual death from infection.
📡 Alexander Graham Bell's metal detector was used in an attempt to locate the bullet, but the effort was undermined by medical arrogance and misinformation.
🕊️ Garfield's death led to positive changes, including the acceptance of antiseptics, civil service reform, and a sense of national unity post-Civil War.
⚰️ Guiteau was executed for the assassination, and his last words highlighted the role of the doctors in Garfield's death.

Q & A

Which four US presidents have been assassinated?
-Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, William McKinley, and James A. Garfield.
What is significant about James A. Garfield's background?
-James A. Garfield was born into extreme poverty in a log cabin, and his father died when he was less than two years old. He worked as a janitor and carpenter to put himself through college, and by 26, he had become the president of Hiram College.
What was Garfield's view on the presidency before he became president?
-Garfield saw the presidency as a 'bleak mountain,' knowing it would be a very difficult and lonely position, and he never sought the office.
What was the 'spoils system' mentioned in the script?
-The spoils system was a practice where anyone could petition the president in person for a government job regardless of experience or ability.
Who was Charles Guiteau, and what was his motivation for assassinating Garfield?
-Charles Guiteau was a delusional and grandiose office seeker who had failed at everything he tried. He believed he had a divine inspiration from God to kill the president when his demand for a position was not met.
Why was there no immediate fatality after Garfield was shot by Guiteau?
-The gunshot did not hit Garfield's spinal cord or any vital organs, making the initial injury non-fatal.
What medical practices of the time contributed to Garfield's deteriorating health?
-Doctors at the time did not believe in germs and rejected the use of antiseptics. They inserted unsterilized fingers and instruments into Garfield's wounds, leading to severe infections.
Who was Dr. D. Willard Bliss, and what was his role in Garfield's treatment?
-Dr. D. Willard Bliss was a doctor who took charge of Garfield's treatment. He was described as arrogant and ambitious, and he did not allow second opinions during the 80 days of Garfield's suffering.
What role did Alexander Graham Bell play in the attempt to save Garfield?
-Alexander Graham Bell was called upon to use his newly invented metal detector to locate the bullet inside Garfield. However, the metal springs in Garfield's bed interfered with the detector, and the bullet was not found.
What were the consequences of Garfield's assassination for the medical field and the country?
-The assassination led to the quick acceptance of antiseptics by American doctors, civil service reform, and a sense of unity that helped heal the nation after the Civil War.
What was Charles Guiteau's final realization before his execution?
-Charles Guiteau realized at the very end that he would not be celebrated for killing the president, and he claimed that it was the doctors who murdered Garfield, not him.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 The Tragic Presidency of James A. Garfield

This paragraph delves into the life and untimely death of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States. Born into poverty, Garfield's intellect and determination led him from janitor to college professor and eventually to the presidency. Despite his reluctance to hold the office, which he described as a 'bleak mountain,' Garfield was thrust into the role during a period of political patronage known as the spoil system. His assassination by Charles J. Guiteau, a delusional office-seeker, was a tragedy that could have been avoided. The medical mishandling of his gunshot wound, including the use of unsterilized instruments and fingers, ultimately led to his death from infection. The paragraph also highlights the historical significance of Garfield's death, which catalyzed changes in medical practices and civil service reform.

05:02

🔍 The Medical Missteps and Legacy of Garfield's Assassination

The second paragraph focuses on the medical misadventures and the broader impact of President Garfield's assassination. It details the futile and harmful attempts by doctors to locate and remove the bullet without sterilization, reflecting the contemporary disbelief in germ theory. The use of Alexander Graham Bell's metal detector was thwarted by the president's metal-spring bed and the doctors' stubborn refusal to consider the bullet might be on the left side of Garfield's body. Garfield's death on September 19th, 1881, was not from the gunshot but from the medical interventions. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the positive changes that arose from this tragedy, including the acceptance of antiseptics and civil service reform, and the unification of a divided nation. It also notes the eventual execution of Guiteau, who, in his delusion, believed that he would be celebrated for his actions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Assassination

Assassination refers to the deliberate killing of a high-profile individual, typically for political reasons. In the video's context, it is central to the theme as it discusses the assassinations of four US presidents, with a focus on James A. Garfield. The script mentions Garfield's assassination, highlighting the tragic and unnecessary nature of his death.

💡Collective Memory

Collective memory is the shared pool of memories, knowledge, and experiences that a group of people have about their past. The video script refers to the collective memory to emphasize how some presidents like Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy are more deeply ingrained in the public consciousness compared to others like James A. Garfield, whose assassination is less remembered.

💡Log Cabin

The term 'log cabin' is used metaphorically in the script to describe the humble beginnings of James A. Garfield, indicating that he was born into poverty. It contrasts with the grandeur often associated with the presidency and serves to humanize Garfield, showing his rise from adversity.

💡Spoils System

The spoils system refers to a political practice where public offices are used as rewards for political support. The script describes this system during Garfield's presidency, illustrating the challenges he faced with numerous office seekers, which included the assassin Charles Guiteau.

💡Delusional

Delusional describes a person who holds beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality, often related to mental health conditions. The script uses this term to characterize Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated Garfield, indicating his distorted perception and the irrationality of his actions.

💡Antiseptics

Antiseptics are substances that prevent the growth of or destroy microorganisms. The script discusses the resistance of American doctors to use antiseptics at the time of Garfield's assassination, which contributed to his infection and eventual death, and the subsequent acceptance of antiseptics as a result of this tragedy.

💡Miasma Theory

The miasma theory was a belief that diseases were caused by 'bad air'. The script contrasts this outdated belief with the germ theory, which was more advanced and accurate. American doctors' adherence to the miasma theory is highlighted as a factor contributing to Garfield's poor medical treatment after his shooting.

💡Civil War Hero

A civil war hero is an individual recognized for their bravery or service during a civil war. The script mentions Garfield as a civil war hero, which adds to his legacy and the tragedy of his assassination, as it underscores the loss of a valued national figure.

💡Invention of the Telephone

The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell is a significant historical event mentioned in the script. Bell's involvement in trying to locate the bullet in Garfield using a metal detector adds a layer of historical context and shows the intersection of technology and medical practice of the time.

💡Civil Service Reform

Civil service reform refers to changes made to improve the recruitment and management of government employees. The script indicates that Garfield's assassination led to such reforms, suggesting a positive outcome from the tragedy and highlighting the impact of his death on American governance.

💡Healing the Nation

Healing the nation metaphorically refers to the process of bringing together a divided country or people. The script suggests that Garfield's death and the response to it helped to unite the country after the Civil War, indicating the profound social impact of his assassination.

Highlights

Four US presidents have been assassinated, with Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy most remembered, while James A. Garfield remains a historical footnote despite his extraordinary qualities.

James A. Garfield was born into poverty, worked his way up from janitor to assistant professor, and had an extraordinary mind.

Garfield's presidency was unwanted, referring to it as a 'bleak mountain', and he was aware of the spoils system's challenges.

Charles Guiteau, a delusional office seeker, believed divine inspiration told him to kill the president.

The lack of Secret Service and the assassination attempt on Garfield on July 2, 1881.

Doctors' immediate response to Garfield's shooting involved unsterilized fingers and instruments, reflecting the medical practices of the time.

The rejection of antiseptics by American doctors due to the belief in the miasma theory, which attributed disease to bad air.

Cabinet member Robert Todd Lincoln's presence at the assassinations of three US presidents.

Dr. D. Willard Bliss's arrogance and monopoly on Garfield's treatment, dismissing second opinions.

Garfield's suffering due to infection and inability to eat, leading to a drastic weight loss.

Alexander Graham Bell's involvement using his metal detector to locate the bullet, hindered by the president's metal bed frame.

Bliss's willful ignorance in only allowing Bell to search one side of Garfield's body, where the bullet was not.

Garfield's death on September 19, 1881, caused not by the gunshot but by medical mishandling.

The positive outcomes following Garfield's death, including the acceptance of antiseptics and civil service reform.

The assassination and its aftermath brought the country together, healing the deep wounds from the Civil War.

Charles Guiteau's execution and his belief that he would be celebrated for his actions, highlighting his delusional state.

Guiteau's quote blaming the doctors for Garfield's death, reflecting the truth of the medical missteps.