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 graduateWar Hero…stops Pickett's Charge

JAMES A. GARFIELD Republican

WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK Democrat

Lackluster campaign…They differed very little on the issuesGarfield gets support from Roscoe Conkling who was in charge of the Stalwarts

Results of the Election of 1880

GARFIELD HANCOCKElectoral Vote: 214 155States Carried: 19 19Popular Vote: 4,446,158 4,444,260Percent of Vote: 48.3% 48.2%

JAMES GARFIELD BECOMES THE 20TH 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… 1st 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 teacherMarriage: Lurcetia “Crete” Rudolph on November 11, 1858.

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 (1859-61) Lincoln supporter, praises

John Brown, Anti-slavery, Pro-War

Soldier in Civil War… goes from Lt. Colonel to General

US Representative (1863-80) 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 1st court case in front of the Supreme Court (1st attorney to do so) Ex Parte

Milligan

GARFIELD’S ADMINISTRATION:

Will only last from March 4th to September 19th 1881

1. Garfield and Conkling fight over political jobs… Garfield wins and breaks Conkling political powers

2. Star Route Scandal: 1st 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, 1881 9:30 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 19th 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 TOMBCleveland, Ohio