November 3, 1880. Congressman James Garfield wakes up on his quiet farm in Ohio to learn that he’s been elected President of the United States. He never campaigned to be on the ticket. He never wanted the presidency. But the nation, weary of corruption and hungry for reform, has chosen him to lead.

But four months after taking office, Garfield will be shot by a man who believes he’s owed a government position. And the president’s short, remarkable life will end in tragedy.

This week, we’re talking with writer and showrunner Mike Makowsky, creator of the new Netflix series Death by Lightning, about the extraordinary story of America’s forgotten president. How did Garfield rise from poverty to the presidency? What might he have achieved if he’d lived? And what does his assassination reveal about political violence, then and now?

Death by Lightning releases on Netflix on November 6th. It’s an adaptation of Destiny of the Republic by Candace Millard, which we also consulted for this episode.

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