The Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield

Let me first issue this advisory: To truly enjoy Kenneth D. Ackerman's book, "The Dark Horse" you have to love reading about politics. Ackerman is a Washington type, and his love of the political game and all of its intricaces is very much evident in his writing. Fortunately, he is such a good writer that he can make even the most mundane and obscure political manuevering as compelling as any suspense thriller.
"The Dark Horse," as the subtitle indicates, tells the tragic tale of President James A. Garfield, who was the surprise Republican nominee in 1880 and won a razor thin victory that Novemeber. Garfield had not desired the Presidency, and was only beginning to become comfortable in the office when he was felled by an assasssin's bullet four months into his term. He died a slow, agonizing death, and in the process became a martyred hero to the country.
Ackerman argues that Garflied's killing, remembered (if at all) for being perpetrated by a "disappointed office seeker" was a residual effect of the wars going on within the Republican Party between two competing factions: the Stalwarts and the Half Breeds. Though the Stalwarts, led by irascible New York Senator Roscoe Conkling, were not directly complicit in Garfield's murder, their strident rhetoric helped set the political climate that made it possible.
Ackerman tells his story in great detail (the narrative portion of the book runs to well over 400 pages). The is a decent illustrations section and a number of helpful charts for the reader. Overall, this is an excellently well written book that will appeal most strongly to American History and politics buffs.

This is a real "behind the scenes" look at the Republican convention of 1880, and its shocking nomination of James A. Garfield for President. It shows how the longlasting animosity between Roscoe Conkling and James G. Blaine resulted in a convention stalemate and an ultimate rush to Garfield as a compromise. It talks about the close election of that year, and goes into Garfield's stand against the vanity and just plain stubbornness of Conkling concerning the "spoils" of victory. It also traces the path of the assassin, and shows that he really was a demented soul, who felt he was doing his party, and the country, a favor by eliminating Garfield. It's an exciting book, and truly reads like the best of fiction. This is a really little known aspect of our history, and should be a "must read" for anyone interested in how our political system evolved into what it is today.

Although many people know that James Abram Garfield was President of the United States of America, few people know that he was the second President assassinated while in office. Fewer yet know the reality of how he became President, what he accomplished (or failed to accomplish), and why someone saw fit for him to die.
Kenneth Ackerman does a remarkable job of tackling these tough topics in his new book Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield. The Republican National Convention of 1880, where Garfield was selected as the party's nominee for President (over the likes of U.S. Grant, John Sherman, and James G. Blaine), is the starting point for the book. Ackerman explains how and why Garfield got the nomination over these better known politicians of the era. Once nominated, of course, Garfield was in the throes of the campaign to be elected President. Here again, Ackerman details Garfield's "front porch" campaign, and the political maneuvering that went on behind the scenes to make his election a reality over the Democratic candidate, Winfield Scott Hancock.
Once elected President, Garfield was immediately confronted with job-seekers looking for a "plum" job in the administration. Many of the "applicants" had assisted in the campaign in one way or another, though some (like Charles Guiteau) significantly over-valued their efforts. While reading the book, it initially seems that perhaps the patronage issue is overdone, but it becomes clear why when Ackerman explains the significance of Charles Guiteau.
Guiteau is the man that actually shot Garfield in a train station in Washington in 1881. Ackerman makes an extremely compelling case for Guiteau's rationalization as to why he must "remove" the President from office, based in no small part upon Garfield's failure to provide Guiteau with the foreign minister position that he so desired. The death of President Garfield is also addressed in the book, as is the elevation of Chester A. Arthur into the Presidency, although these topics are given minimal attention, as is appropriate given the title of the book.
Overall, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in the American Presidency, the Garfield administration, or Gilded Age Politics. This book is an exemplary addition to the available literature on the Garfield administration, as well as Gilded Age politics in general.

I got this as a Father's Day gift from my son. What a great read that provides a glimpse of the USA in the years following the assasination of Lincoln when newspapers ruled the media market and politics was dominated by bosses. Garfield had a major role in ending the era of true politial bosses on the national stage and the perks and back scratching that came with it. One is left to wonder what could have been had he been President for 8 years rather than a few months.

The traditional explanation of President James Garfield's assasination offered by standard history books--"He was shot by a crazed, disgruntled officeseeker who wanted Chester Arthur to become President"--fails to capture the drama and historical context of this critical event. In Ackerman's hands, the story comes alive and with it an important chapter in American history.
As I read this, I couldn't help thinking this would make a great movie. But in today's special effects obsessed film industry, I can't imagine it being made.

Ackerman does a great job in narrating this story about a little known President, but an important period in the trasition on our country. The political infighting is told well. While you may not have known much about the people involved, before tou read the book, they will be well remembered after reading this enlightening book.

I really enjoyed this book. It got into great detail how Garfield became President. I shows a time in American politics that is thankfully gone away. This is a great book for someone who likes history

This is a remarkable and well-written piece about a time in America's history that has been forgotten. At times it reads like a novel and maintained my interest throughout. It was satisfying to appreciate that, despite the faults of our political system, it is so much better now than it was just three or four generations ago. I highly recommend this outstanding book.

as promised

Great condition.