MovieChat Forums > American Experience (1988) Discussion > James Garfield

James Garfield

posted 8 years ago by teresah233
13 replies | jump to latest

Garfield was the President who has always seemed but a footnote of the American Presidency. I had never seen any reason to learn about Garfield before, but upon viewing this excellent episode, I am reading Destiny of the Republic, the book on which this was based.
I enjoyed seeing how someone born into abject poverty, with the help of his mother's $17.00 life savings invested in his college education, and his intelligence and hard work rose to make something of his life. After his first year, he ran out of money, but was such an impressive student, Western Reserve (Hiram College) hired him as a professor of Literature, Mathematics and Ancient Languages in his second year.
He married a woman he loved but was incompatible with, yet they both grew from adversity into a true love match.
It is easy to see, had he not been shot, then literally killed by his doctor's incompetence, Garfield would probably have been a great president.
Excellent biography of Garfield.

[–] crashdummy35 8 years ago

It was a fantastic episode, indeed.

[–] Piperson 8 years ago

There were at least three delusional maniacs featured in this story. One was the guy who shot Garfield and thought he would be a hero. Two was Roscoe Conkling who quit the Senate and expected all his colleagues and constituents to clamor for his return. And the third was the doctor who thought he was the only one who knew how to treat Garfield's wound despite the fact that his condition was deteriorating. A fascinating story well told.

[–] nonami18 8 years ago

The biggest tragedy is he could have and probably would have survived if not for the stupidity and hubris of the Doctor.

[–] TorontoBlueJay 8 years ago

If the other doctor had been more forceful in his criticism of Bliss, then maybe more could have been done.

[–] bond_98 8 years ago

I think it was a missed opportunity. I think he could have been a great president. For me one the most striking thing is how Charles J. Guiteau seemed like the kind of person who would be shooting up schools or theaters today. I guess things never change.

[–] teresah233 8 years ago

You are so right. We have a real mental health crisis in this country. Except for the San Bernardino terrorists and the Charleston Church shooter, it appears all mass shootings in the past few years - Newtown, all of the theater shootings, Elliot Rodger (UC Santa Barbara) have been committed by the mentally ill. These just readily come to mind but probably all major shootings have involved mental illness, imo.

With Guiteau, it appears he was a paranoid schizophrenic, which usually features "God" telling them what to do. Although I have researched paranoid schizophrenia in the past, it comes down to a dysfunctioning brain, the chemicals and synapses. The severe beatings Guiteau received from his father may have set his mental illness in motion.

Garfield was a dead man walking for all the months Guiteau stalked him. Yet, he wasn't the one who killed him. In the end, Garfield put his faith in a failed doctor, whom Garfield hired anyway. All that pain and suffering and none of it, or Garfield's death, were necessary.

[–] El_Raheem 8 years ago

It was a good episode. I was pretty ignorant to his presidential experience.

[–] bsmale 8 years ago

Well said. It's sad....his murder seemed to come at the hands of several people, including his egomaniacal doctor.

[–] jf_moran49 8 years ago

I am not a fan of these historical reenactment-type documentaries that mix factual documents and historical photographs with dramatic reenactments (whether audio or visual), such as the film about 20th President of the United States James Garfield produced for PBS' "American Experience." Initially (because of a slight resemblance), I actually thought Garfield was portrayed in this film by actor Kelsey Grammer, but eventually realized Garfield was portrayed by some relatively unknown actor.

And also, for what it's worth, this so-called "American Experience" film was produced by Sirena Film Production Services, located in the Czech Republic. But, of course, it is well-known PBS has a very definite political perspective (from the left) in most of its programming.

I've no problem with documentaries which combine period photographs with narration, such as the acclaimed "The Civil War" series by filmmaker Ken Burns. And, of course, for subject matter after a period where such is possible, documentaries that include period photos as well actual film and/or videotape footage with the subject is ideal. I may also enjoy some thoroughly dramatic films with historical subjects, such as those about the sinking of the Titanic or a biopic about some important cultural or historic figure. But this mix of factual source material with fictional re-enactment seems more propaganda than documentary.

And I don't limit this criticism to documentaries with only visual re-enactment. I was also bothered by an "American Experience" film about Eleanor Roosevelt which utilized Meryl Streep as the "voice" of its main subject. Such was completely unnecessary, since actual audio recordings of the film's subject exist.

Of course, for subject matter before even photography is possible as a primary source, I guess no alternative exists but artistic sketch renderings and dramatic re-enactments. But I still prefer documentaries with non-fiction source material.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

cool. thx for the book rec.

🌴"I'm not making art, I'm making sushi." Masaharu Morimoto🌴

[–] teresah233 8 years ago

You bet. It is a well written, interesting wealth of info on Garfield - I think you will enjoy it. 😃

With the crazy election season, at times depressing me beyond all imagining, I began reading Truman by David McCullough about a month ago. It is 1100 pages and I am only 45% of the way through but it reads like a novel. I long for a time that seemed more civilized and decent but I know I'm fooling myself. I'm at the point where McCarthy was just entering the Senate in 1947. In three years he would launch one of the most destructive political witch hunts, ruining many innocent peoples lives and was allowed to do so unabated.

The 'good old days' are a myth but Truman is a good book.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

huge fan of david mccullough. will have to check out that book too. thx!

🌴"I'm not making art, I'm making sushi." Masaharu Morimoto🌴

[–] teresah233 8 years ago

😃