Just finished this limited series last night. We loved it, though it was emotionally painful to watch at times. It connects nicely with current events. The assassin's mental illness was not funny to me as I spent my professional medical career treating such unfortunate folks. I assume we see him in a protracted bipolar manic state with psychotic features. No treatment for that back then. Thankfully, in modern times there are several widely available and effective treatments. Still, there are many undiagnosed and/or untreated sufferers who roam freely and have access to firearms in our culture... an ongoing recipe for disaster.
Interesting fact: It was decided that the fresh air of the Jersey shore might aid Garfield in his recovery. Charles G. Francklyn, an executive with the British-owned Cunard Line, offered the President and his wife the use of his Long Branch, NJ oceanfront mansion, and Garfield was placed into a train for the journey. The problem was that there was no good way to get Garfield from the Long Branch train station to the mansion, about a half-mile away. The solution was to build a temporary railroad spur from the train station right up to the house! A group of volunteers and railroad workers laid the half-mile of track overnight. Even more astounding, the train was actually pushed the final distance to the front of the house by a large crowd. It was in that house that Garfield died. https://monmouthtimeline.org/timeline/u-s-president-james-a-garfield-dies-in-elberon/
I collect 19th c. antique pattern glass, and pieces memorializing Garfield (who was also a Civil War hero) are fairly common. Whenever I see them I feel very sad, thinking about how much he must have suffered in those awful, lingering months after he was shot.
The book is excellent. Looking forward to the show. Another great book with a lighter slant is Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 2005 with history, geographic sites visited and if you can believe it, some tasteful humor.
The site of his assassination, the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, has been largely forgotten because it doesn't exist anymore. It was located at 6th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, where the National Gallery of Art sits today. The precise site is on Constitution Avenue in front of the north entrance of the gallery. Two historical markers are placed on the opposite side of the gallery on the National Mall.
Just finished this limited series last night. We loved it, though it was emotionally painful to watch at times. It connects nicely with current events. The assassin's mental illness was not funny to me as I spent my professional medical career treating such unfortunate folks. I assume we see him in a protracted bipolar manic state with psychotic features. No treatment for that back then. Thankfully, in modern times there are several widely available and effective treatments. Still, there are many undiagnosed and/or untreated sufferers who roam freely and have access to firearms in our culture... an ongoing recipe for disaster.
Interesting fact: It was decided that the fresh air of the Jersey shore might aid Garfield in his recovery. Charles G. Francklyn, an executive with the British-owned Cunard Line, offered the President and his wife the use of his Long Branch, NJ oceanfront mansion, and Garfield was placed into a train for the journey. The problem was that there was no good way to get Garfield from the Long Branch train station to the mansion, about a half-mile away. The solution was to build a temporary railroad spur from the train station right up to the house! A group of volunteers and railroad workers laid the half-mile of track overnight. Even more astounding, the train was actually pushed the final distance to the front of the house by a large crowd. It was in that house that Garfield died. https://monmouthtimeline.org/timeline/u-s-president-james-a-garfield-dies-in-elberon/
I collect 19th c. antique pattern glass, and pieces memorializing Garfield (who was also a Civil War hero) are fairly common. Whenever I see them I feel very sad, thinking about how much he must have suffered in those awful, lingering months after he was shot.
I LOVED Candace Millard’s book, Destiny of the Republic. Looking forward to watching this!
The book is excellent. Looking forward to the show. Another great book with a lighter slant is Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell 2005 with history, geographic sites visited and if you can believe it, some tasteful humor.
The site of his assassination, the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station, has been largely forgotten because it doesn't exist anymore. It was located at 6th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, where the National Gallery of Art sits today. The precise site is on Constitution Avenue in front of the north entrance of the gallery. Two historical markers are placed on the opposite side of the gallery on the National Mall.
One of the best movies I have seen. I now want to be a history buff
I've been recommending Destiny of the Republic for years. Fantastic research went into it. Hope the movie version is equally compelling.