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1831-1881

Latest News: Netflix’s Death by Lightning Revisits James A. Garfield’s Assassination

The Netflix mini-series Death by Lightning will dive deep into the true story of President James A. Garfield’s assassination. The show will chronicle the life and death of the 20th U.S. president, portrayed by actor Michael Shannon, following his unexpected nomination as the Republican presidential nominee and his narrow election victory in 1880.

Garfield was shot by office-seeker Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen) just a few months into his term in July 1881. Guiteau believed he was owed a job in Garfield’s administration for showing his support for the president during his election campaign.

While this was common under the patronage system at the time, G

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