Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
When I picked this up on hold from my library, I couldn’t remember where I had ever heard of it or why I had wanted to read it. Probably some book review in O Magazine. Totally outside my interest in general. I’m so glad I read it. Ms. Millard is an easy writer, offering documentation, quotes, and detail with such ease. Pleasure to read. James Garfield was only our President for 200 days before he was shot by a crazy man. Garfield didn’t even want the job, apparently, but Millard shows him to be a man of such intellect and honor that it is no surprise that his death galvanized the nation and turned his milquetoast – and corrupt- Vice President Chester Arthur into an honest man. The echoes of corruption and dysfunction of government from then to now were almost reassuring — what we’re going through is nothing new! And the medical side of the story (Garfield was not killing instantly but died 2 months later from gross medical failure) is fascinating. Excellent read.
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