From My Mind to....

Death By Lightning

Are you looking for something to watch over the coming weekend? I suggest the Netflix four episode, mini-series Death By Lightning.

This is the story about President James Garfield, who ascended to the Presidency in 1881 without having any desire for that post. Indeed, after receiving the Republican nomination on the 36th ballot to run for President, he refused to even campaign.

The mini-series was based on the 2011 book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. I read this book several years ago and found it fascinating. Both the book and series treat Garfield's rise to the top of his party, his fight against the rampant corruption in politics at the time, and the steps that led his assassin, Charles Guiteau, to decide to assassinate President Garfield.

For example, President Garfield would have survived being shot and recovered fully had it not been for arrogant doctors who repeatedly over several months probed the wound with unsanitary fingers and instruments searching for the bullet. This fact was determined at autopsy.

I highly recommend both reading Millard's book and watching the mini-series--the latter is easily done in an afternoon. You won't be sorry.