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| Did anyone else's PBS channel recently carry the show about the assassination and subsequent death of Pres. James Garfield?
A couple of years back, NPR carried an interview with the author of the book. I found it interesting, and ordered the book, etc. So I was recently interested to watch the PBS show as well.
Garfield was something of an academic genius, who would work out complicated math/calculus problems from his seat in the House, while the other politicians were bickering. He sort of "fell into" the nomination for President, when his convention was deadlocked. He was elected, and then served only a month or two before a crazy man--who thought that V.P. Chester A Arthur should be President--took a shot at his back.. There is at least SOME speculation that Garfield might have survived, but his medical care was entrusted to his personal physician--something of a long time friend-- who saw the situation as a way to advance his own career......and proved to be inept, and mistaken in his views re: sanitation and wound treatment.
Blunders upon blunders ensued, and in the end Garfield died after a couple months of intense suffering.
Interesting book, and interesting show. And without really trying, it's also a sad commentary on human failings. showboat | |
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PBS Show About the Death of Pres. Garfield
