Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic is a historical novel that explains who James Garfield was, how he became the United States’ 20th president, as well as his assassination. Millard explains how James Garfield started out as a child in a poverty-stricken family who overcame poverty to later become President of the United States. In this novel, Millard shows the kind of people person James Garfield was in comparison with the type of person his assassin Charles Guiteau was. Destiny of the Republic takes a personal look at whom the United States’ 20th president was, his family, his assassin, and the medical care he received after he was shot. Candice Millard brings up many good arguable points and essential thesis elements in this historical novel. Perhaps the most important thesis elements in Destiny of the Republic include the character of James Garfield, the level of security deemed unnecessary at that time in history for the president of the United States, and the errors made by doctors following the shooting. As an author, Candice Millard developed her thesis elements well and in an intriguing way throughout the book, which can be difficult for writers to do who also strive for historical accuracy. For some readers, the characters in Destiny of the Republic might appear to be …show more content…
In today’s world, one could figuratively say that it takes an act of congress for the president to go anywhere. Today the secret service is highly trained to keep the president safe from any possible threat, but the level of security for the 20th president was nowhere near where it is for the 45th president. In the 1880’s, the president was looked at as “one of the people”, so security was not considered to be as important as it is today. This proves to be evident in chapters 10 and 11 when the shooting takes
Parsons, L. H. (2009). The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
The book Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore’s America by Eric Rauchway examines the murder of President William McKinley and the assassin’s motives that impacted America. Rauchway also reveals to us the making of Theodore’s America through a tragic event to show us how Roosevelt gave it meaning through the start of the Progressive Era with his own political agenda. McKinley’s policies came to and end bringing open doors to new policies on social reform. The book is a well-constructed written book that presents to the reader the story of what had occurred chronologically from the beginning of the assassination to the end of the murder’s life. The main issues that are presented in the book include the assassination of the President and
Opening with the event of McKinley’s shooting and the man who shot him, Rauchway quickly zooms out, distancing us from the scene, reflecting on the political status of the President, who “in the instant before he was shot” had “stood at the peak of hi...
Now here is a brief summary of the book the president has been shot. First, the book tells you about John F.
Rossoll, Nicki. "Five Ways Kennedy's Assassination Changed Presidential Security Forever." abcnews. abcnews.com, 22 Nov 2013. Web. 13 Jan 2014.
Throughout Guiteau’s life, he had a developing mental disorder. He followed a religious pathway, but his mental disorder which was in full swing at this point. Making speeches which somewhat helped Garfield elected, gave Guiteau the idea that even though he was unqualified in every way, he deserved a spot in the government. He was rejected by the secretary of state and told never to return, This was Guiteau’s breaking point. His mental disorder plus this new rage that gave him the idea that this would save the Republican party and that God told him to shoot the
The first chapter of this book is simply an introduction. It gives an overview of each chapter and helps the reader prepare for what to expect. Throughout the entire book, Thomas J. DiLorenzo explores the Lincoln presidency and his traits and accomplishments that are popular to the world. He reveals the truths behind these common myths that have been researched by many over the years. Chapter two expresses the uncertainties about how Lincoln truly felt about racial equality. Lincoln is often referred to as the “Great Emanc...
On November 22, 1963 President John Fitzgerald Kennedy arrived in Dallas to an excited crowd of people lining the streets hoping to get a glimpse of the President. At 12:30 in the afternoon, the President’s car made the last, fatal turn. As the car turned left onto Elm Street, past the Texas School Block Depository and headed down the slope that leads through Dealey Plaza, Governor Connally’s wife said, “Mr. President, You can’t say that Dallas doesn’t love you” (Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy 48). Immediately after that, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States was shot once in the neck and again in the head (Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy 48). To this day, the United States mourns the death of its once young and inspirational President. Forty-eight years later, many people are still uncertain as to who is actually responsible for the death of such a significantly powerful and popular President. Since John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated, there have been numerous conspiracy theories such that, the Central Intelligence agency, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were linked to the assassination and Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, but was framed.
Since 1901, the Secret Service has been providing protection to the President of the United States, (Youngblood, 1973). Secret Service special agents are the backbone of the agency; they receive more training than any other law enforcement agency in the United States. Special agents conduct all investigations relating to counterfeiting and fraud as well as provide protection to elected officials. The mission of the Secret Service may seem straight forward, but it is actually challenging and complex. Through historical records, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and first-hand accounts, this study exposes the evidence that illustrates the effectiveness of Secret Service training.
The second section of Assassination Vacation, is dedicated to the assassination of President Garfield. Garfield’s death was quite different from Lincoln’s, after his July second shooting Garfield lived for two and a half months before blood poisoning killed him on September 19th. During this time, Garfield remained in a vegetative state, but to the public it was a popular subject. Citizens constantly checked newspapers for updates about the president’s condition, which Vowell compares to that of modern day societies reaction to the NBA Finals or the Academy Awards ceremony.
Thomas, Scott. The Pursuit of the White House. New York: Greenwood Press, 1987. 46-52. Print.
Imagine walking down the street on a sunny, fall afternoon. You watch all of the happy kids and their parents enjoying the day as a parade goes by. All of the happy people in the street are eagerly jumping up on their toes attempting to get a glimpse of the president. The weather is practically perfect, so when the president comes around the corner of the street, he has the top down on the convertible to experience the beautiful weather. All of the sudden you hear a loud bang, and see many people scattering and dropping to the ground to cover their heads. You slowly begin to understand that a gunshot has been fired and panic sinks in. About 100 different case scenarios race quickly through your mind. This was the scene November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. It was the day of President Kennedy’s assassination. All of the panic that day lead to a lot of confusion which has lead to many of today’s conspiracy theories.(Frontline.) Even Though many works of fiction fill readers’ heads with beliefs of secret societies and many conspiracy theories, historical evidence proves they do not exist.
A murder which easily occured and left a footprint in history that many historians and essay writers will enjoy to read about, because the factors leading up to it are so interesting and unique, that it cannot be compared to another assassination. Somehow these 2 men involved both had difficult childhoods which set them on pathways which changed their lives forever. Many are unaware of James Garfield himself and how he was the first left handed president. Being one of four presidents assassinated in office, he had the second shortest term of power behind William Henry Harrison, whose term went from March 4th- April 4th 1841 after dying from pneumonia. James Garfield led many of his time in office and will always be remembered as the 20th president in United States
In the book The Presidential Character, by James David Barber, Barber talks about the different personalities of previous presidents and how their personalities had a negative or positive influence on their election and term as president. A person's character shows a lot about who they are as a person.
“The main purpose of the secret service was to fight the counterfeiting of the U.S. currency” (Academic World Book). The Secret Service have a lot of responsibilities on their hands. They protect not only the president and other people in the white house, but also our country. If it wasn’t for them, people that are important would be hurt, even killed. It’s relevant because if it wasn’t for them we wouldn't have a president. Secret Service agents have to protect the president and their immediate families. There main subject is the president because he’s the most important. The Secret Service agents protect the president, vice president, and their immediate families. Secret Service agents have the greatest responsibilities than any other agents.