Dark Horse by Kenneth D. Ackerman

The Election and Assassination of President James A. Garfield

Apr 6, 2009

Ackerman's book provides not only a detailed rendition of Garfield's murder, but also a close look at Gilded Age politics.

Published in 2003, Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield may only be available in libraries. However, this reviewer has read the book twice and it cannot gather dust. The author fleshes out a great story dominated by six personalities:

Stalwarts and Half-Breeds

Ackerman delves into the political rivalry that was behind the assassination. Two factions on the Republican Party formed after the Civil War. Roscoe Conkling led the stalwarts, centered around strong support for President Grant, despite the scandals in his administration. The Half-Breeds were led by James G. Blaine, who were mainly moderates and reformers.

At the 1880 Republican convention, the Stalwarts promoted Grant for a third term. Ackerman presents a surprise- showing Grant as the enthusiastic candidate rather than the reluctant politician that he was noted for. Grant was disgusted when the thirty-six ballot battle between him, Blaine, and John Sherman was won by the dark horse Garfield.

While Garfield battled Democratic nominee Winfield Scott Hancock, down and out lawyer Charles Guiteau saw his opportunity for political office by working for the Republican campaign in New York. Vice Presidential nominee and stalwart Chester Arthur, supervisor of the New York campaign, assigned Guiteau to speak at a rally. Guiteau only read a few minutes of his speech, overwhelmed by the situation. When Garfield won narrowly, with New York a pivotal state, a deluded Guiteau assumed his speech won the election for Garfield.

Patronage

Ackerman's portrayal of Guiteau, a political nobody interacting with political heavyweights, is truly fascinating. No sooner than Garfield occupied the White House, office seekers deluged him, including Guiteau. Guiteau's movements are tracked by Ackerman: visits to the White House and Garfield, visits to the state department and Secretary of State Blaine. He applied for the Paris Consulship, despite not speaking a word of french. He was finally rebuffed after several months.

A stunned Guiteau then read accounts of Garfield backing down from understandings with the Stalwarts concerning patronage. Garfield awarded William Robertson, Conkling's enemy in New York, the plum position- Collector of Port of New York. Conkling and fellow New York Senator Tom Platt resigned their seats in strategic protest. Guiteau came to one conclusion: Garfield must go so that his fellow Stalwarts, with Arthur president, could prevail.

Ackerman continues to follow Guiteau, who quietly stalked Garfield. He even attempted to get look inside the D.C. jail to see what his quarters would be like. After the assassination, there was public outrage towards Conkling and the Stalwarts. Conkling's buddy, Arthur, was in dispair, reading newspapers associating him with the crime. Ackerman vividly communicates the suffering Garfield experienced for two months before succumbing to infection, which the cadre of doctors treating him were responsible for.

Dark Horse brings to life an overlooked event in American history. Ackerman states that Garfield's death paved the way for civil service reform, ending the mad rush of office seekers. Overall, the book weaves the political and human elements together into an absorbing story.

The copyright of the article Dark Horse by Kenneth D. Ackerman in History Books is owned by William L. Wunder. Permission to republish Dark Horse by Kenneth D. Ackerman in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.