President James A. Garfield was the second President to be assassinated in American history, and the second in as many decades. Out of all the presidents who have been assassinated, President Garfield remains the person to have survived the longest after the initial attack. Garfield would live for 11 weeks after being shot. The nation would begin considering means to protect the person holding the office of the presidency, but it would not be until after President McKinley’s assassination in 1901 that the United States Secret Service would be assigned the responsibility of the safety of the President of the United States of America. Though President Garfield was shot, it was most likely poor medical care that led to his ultimate and untimely demise.

James Garfield was deeply religious, and though never ordained he was known to preach revivals and speak in churches in his 20’s. He was deeply convinced of his faith and sought to adjust his views to that of his understanding in his faith—this included his radical (for the time) understanding of abolition and reconstruction.