A Booklist Notable Book of 2012
The extraordinary New York Times bestselling account of James Garfield's rise from poverty to the American presidency?? and the dramatic history of his assassination and legacy?? from bestselling author of The River of Doubt?? Candice Millard.??
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James Abram Garfield was one of the most extraordina"en ever elected president. Born into abject poverty?? he rose to become a wunderkind scholar?? a Civil War hero?? a renowned congressman?? and a reluctant presidential candidate who took on the nation's corrupt political establishment. But four months after Garfield's inauguration in 1881?? he was shot in the back by a deranged office-seeker named Charles Guiteau. Garfield survived the attack?? but become the object of bitter?? behind-the-scenes struggles for power?over his administration?? over the nation's future?? and?? hauntingly?? over his medical care. Meticulously researched?? epic in scope?? and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive?? The Destiny of the Republic brings alive a forgotten chapter of U.S. history.
At the heart of Destiny of the Republic is the story of the assassination of President James Garfield. What made me want to write this book however was not what I knew about President Garfieldthat he had been shot by a deranged man in the summer of 1881but all that I did not. In everything I read I am always looking for the thread of an idea something that surprises me and leaves me wanting to know more. To me thats the best part of being a writerfollowing an idea to see where it leads. Most of the time after doing a little research I quickly come to a dead end. One day four years ago however I found much more than I had ever expected.
While reading a biography of Alexander Graham Bell I learned that Bell had tried to help save Garfields life after the President was shot. I wondered why a man as famous and powerful as Bell who had invented the telephone just five years earlier would abandon everything he was working on put his life on hold to help any man even a President. The only way to answer that question I realized was to understand exactly what Bell had invented and more than that to find out what kind of man Garfield had been.
After the assassination attempt?? Bell devoted himself night and day to inventing something called an induction balance?? a type of metal detector?? to locate the bullet lodged in the President??s body. The induction balance that Bell used for the final time on Garfield is on display in the National Museum of American History?? on the National Mall. What most people don??t know?? however?? is that the museum also has all of the versions of Bell??s induction balance?? in various shapes and sizes?? with hanging wires and unfinished edges?? that he created while trying to perfect his invention. As I held these fragile instruments in my gloved hands?? carefully examining their intricate workings?? I could almost see Bell??s mind working?? and his heart racing?? as the President drew closer and closer to death.
Although?? in the end?? I would spend three years working on this book?? it took only a few days of research to re