Mini-series - 4 episodes
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Based on: Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
Created by: Mike Makowsky
Starring: Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, Nick Offerman
Rated: TV-MA
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Plot
James Garfield reluctantly ascends to the presidency, focused on political reform. His admirer Charles Guiteau's increasing obsession with the president leads him to the act of assassination.
Verdict
It's the history of a forgotten president that faced several political hurdles, feeling relevant even today. This is a great history lesson delivered by an impressive cast that reveals the challenges an earnest president faces contrasted with a swindler that will tell any lie to get ahead. Despite Garfield's short stay in office, his death affected sterilization in surgery as well as made his successor Arthur a better president. Guiteau's passion quickly becomes misdirected as he seeks vengeance instead of change.
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Review
The question that opens the series is, who is Charles Guiteau?
Senator James Garfield (Michael Shannon) delivers a speech on behalf of another presidential candidate and winds up winning votes despite his protests. With vote after vote without a clear winner the tides turn and Garfield gains more votes. The convention eventually nominates Garfield as the presidential candidate. A chance encounter between Garfield leaving the convention and Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen) is the start of Guiteau's obsessive interest in the future president.
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| E1: Michael Shannon plays James Garfield |
Guiteau is a liar and cheat, swindling his own family and boasting of big tales. I wondered if he was delusional or just sad. He's desperate for attention and a sense of importance.
Garfield doesn't have a choice in running for president, nor does he get a choice in his vice president. Chester Arthur (Nick Offerman) brings the New York delegation, and that's needed to win the campaign. Arthur and Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham) had a scheme to get a man in the White House. It wasn't supposed to be Garfield, but they're hoping maybe they can use him to their advantage. New York politicians are corrupt, and Garfield certainly poses a challenge to their way of politicking.
Guiteau is on the run from the police since he stole from his brother in law. A very drunk Arthur helps him evade the cops, misidentifying him as Cousteau due to an earlier misunderstanding. Guiteau always embellishes his accomplishments, claiming to have done and be more than he is. He thinks he deserves to write Garfield's speeches or be awarded a job in the administration, but his slights are only perceived. He thinks he deserves these roles, but he has no experience or relation to Garfield's administration. No one knows who he is. He seems delusional at times, but he's a scammer that's trying to con people to give him a job and to make all of his embellishments true.
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| E1: Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles Guiteau |
Garfield is elected president but unable to do anything, hamstrung by Conkling who's been trying to pull the strings since the beginning. He can't get his nominations for the cabinet through due to meddling from Conkling and Arthur. Arthur attempts to use that to get himself removed from office, but Garfield won't let that happen.
Garfield is shot down just when his presidency was looking up. His legacy and widow are robbed. Guiteau thought the act would make his famous and then thought his execution would be his last stand. Instead both he and Garfield die, fading into obscurity. Even more tragic is that Garfield's death could have been prevented. Surgeon's didn't believe in antiseptics. While one doctor argues for the use, the main physician is hesitant to trust this 'new' information.
Chester Arthur succeeded Garfield and made a competent president, defying expectation of corruption to embrace reform. That has to be in large part due to Garfield.
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