The True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Death by Lightning’ and the Assassination of James A. Garfield
Charles Guiteau’s bullet did not directly cause the death of the 20th president of the United States; instead, it was a combination of ignorance, pride, and flawed medical treatment that led to President Garfield’s demise. Garfield was less than four months into his presidency when Guiteau, a disgruntled supporter, shot him.
The aftermath of this attack still influences politics and medicine more than 120 years later. The new Netflix limited series Death by Lightning, which premiered on November 6, dramatizes the tragedy and its significance in American history.
About the Netflix Series
The four-part series stars Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield and Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau. It explores the circumstances leading to the assassination and the misguided medical interventions that followed.
Charles Guiteau’s Background
Born in Freeport, Illinois, in 1841, Charles Julius Guiteau had a troubled childhood. His mother, Jane, suffered from psychosis and died when he was about seven years old, leaving him to be raised by his abusive father, Luther. Later in life, Guiteau attended the University of Michigan and joined a religious commune in Oneida, New York.
Guiteau’s Motive and Aftermath
Guiteau, upset over his political ambitions being ignored, shot President Garfield. The president’s death was not caused solely by the bullet but by the subsequent medical treatment, which was marked by errors and misunderstandings that worsened his condition.
"Charles Guiteau’s bullet didn’t kill the 20th president—it was ignorance, pride, and the tools meant to save his life."
Garfield’s assassination highlighted the crucial need for medical and political reforms, lessons still relevant today.
Summary: The Netflix series Death by Lightning sheds light on the tragic assassination of President Garfield, emphasizing how flawed medical care and personal failings contributed to his death, not just the gunshot wound.
Would you like the text to be more formal or conversational?