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Summary: Great insight about a little know time
Review: Ackerman does a great job in narrating this story about a little known President, but an important period in the trasition on our country. The political infighting is told well. While you may not have known much about the people involved, before tou read the book, they will be well remembered after reading this enlightening book.
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Summary: The Surprise of Dark Horse
Review: Dark Horse:the Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield, was very well written, kept readers attention through the 453 pages written almost like a novel(in other countries it would be a novel) all the historical characters of that age come alive. Thank you Mr.Ackerman, you do this very well!
Rating:
Summary: Well-written & riveting account
Review: I first encountered the slow death of James Garfield while doing research on unrelated events taking place in the summer of 1881. Reading through the microfilmed copies of several small-town Kansas newspapers, I kept seeing the weekly updates of the stricken president, and even though it wasn't part of the focus of my research at the time, I found myself drawn to the prolongued agony of a nation, as it watched its president slowly slip away.The cruel irony of Garfield's death was that it was against all odds that he should have been dying in the White House in the first place, and of course that is what makes the whole story so interesting. Ackerman does an excellent job setting the stage for the 1880 Republican convention (yes, once upon a time, party conventions really did matter), which was largely a struggle between several power blocs. First and foremost was the struggle between Senators Roscoe Conkling & James Blaine, who had a mutual dislike rivalled by few other politicians (LBJ & Bobby Kennedy come to mind). Blaine was seeking the presidency in his own right, and Conkling, having spent the last 4 years jousting with outgoing President Hayes, was angling to regain the White House (for a third term) for former president Grant. Ackerman skillfully weaves a picture filled with wheeling & dealing --- the classic picture of a smoke-filled back room really has historical basis --- and shows how the forces of history sometimes take on a momentum of their own, and slip loose from the hands of even the most adroit political managers. To surprise of all, Garfield got the nomination, and then had to face an election that turned out to be extremely close. Through the campaign, more wheeling & dealing occurs, and Ackerman vividly illustrates the uncertain nominee attempting to reach agreement with various truculent party bosses. During this stage of the game, Garfield comes off looking very much like a politically clumsy neophyte, not equal to the challenges of the office. What Garfield might have ultimately done as President we will never know, and thankfully Ackerman spares of the "what-if" brand of history at this point. Garfield's only real victory of consequence during his brief term was the outmaneuvering of Roscoe Conkling regarding office nominations in New York. Garfield's behavior during this episode can be interpreted as either standing firm on principle or mule-headed stubborness, and one can draw any number of conclusions on how this behavior might have played over 4 years. His victory over Conkling was thought to be only the first of several battles for the control of the Republican Party. Of course, the whole situation abruptly was thrown into chaos as Garfield is shot down, and not only fails to die quickly but actually for a time improves in health. Truly this is the most sickening part of the whole book, as Ackerman describes in gory detail Garfield's eventual succumbing to infection, starvation & blood poisoning. In a perverse way, Charles Guiteau was actually correct when he said he didn't actually kill Garfield. The doctors with their germ-covered hands were ultimately more responsible for Garfield's demise than was Guiteau. Ackerman's book is not just the story of Garfield; it is the story with several equally important characters --- Grant, Conkling, and Blaine. Lurking in the shadows are two characters that suddenly assume great importance --- Chester Arthur & the strange little man, Charles Guiteau. When Garfield is suddenly removed from the scene, the story does not simply end with him. The other main characters are left behind to try and pick up the pieces and move on without him. One is left with a much greater respect for Arthur after reading this book, as he is suddenly thrust, unprepared and under a cloud of suspicion & distrust, into the presidency. Ackerman does not emphasize this, but Arthur actually knew for the last 3 years of his term that he was slowly dying from Bright's Disease, but managed to conceal his ill health and still function effectively as president. Overall, this is a lively account of a story that has more than its fair share of peaks and valleys. Read in conjunction with Roy Morris' "Fraud of the Century," this book presents a very good picture of partisan politics and their sometimes unexpected consequences.
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Summary: What a story- non-fiction at its best!
Review: I got this as a Father's Day gift from my son. What a great read that provides a glimpse of the USA in the years following the assasination of Lincoln when newspapers ruled the media market and politics was dominated by bosses. Garfield had a major role in ending the era of true politial bosses on the national stage and the perks and back scratching that came with it. One is left to wonder what could have been had he been President for 8 years rather than a few months.
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Summary: A Very Good Read
Review: I picked up the book on a whim and was surprised what a readable and entertaining presentation of history it was. Books of this sort can be dry, but I thought that the author did a very good job of bring history alive.
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Summary: Politcally satisfying book
Review: Kenneth D Ackerman's Dark Horse is truly a satisfying read for politcal buffs. With two other books it forms trilogy of three consecutive elections. The other two books are Roy Morris Jr's 'Fraud of the Century' and Mark Wahlgren Summers' 'Rum, Romanism, & Rebellion'. Ackerman brings to life the suspense filled convention of 1880 vividly and all the excitement it generated then. He describes the total surprise of Garfield very aptly at becoming the nominee. Garfield's razor thin majority in the elections against Hancock and the deal it generated with the Stalwarts is very well described. Garfield was a man reluctantly thrust into the Presidency but once in office was totally overwhelmed by the office. Only when he started to grow in office he was tragically cut down. Only if had the chance to survive we would have seen maybe an interesting Presidency. Ackerman describes the feuds between the Stalwarts of the Conkling faction and the Half-Breeds of Blaine faction very well. The book instead of being a straight biography of one person is a collective biography of few people and thus brings to life the era very vividly. We can only wish for more books like this for politcal buffs. It is a about a remote time but the era is presented with all the excitement and enthusiasm of that time. I highly recommend this book for any political junky.
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Summary: An Incredible Story
Review: The traditional explanation of President James Garfield's assasination offered by standard history books--"He was shot by a crazed, disgruntled officeseeker who wanted Chester Arthur to become President"--fails to capture the drama and historical context of this critical event. In Ackerman's hands, the story comes alive and with it an important chapter in American history. As I read this, I couldn't help thinking this would make a great movie. But in today's special effects obsessed film industry, I can't imagine it being made.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Story
Review: The traditional explanation of President James Garfield's assasination offered by standard history books--"He was shot by a crazed, disgruntled officeseeker who wanted Chester Arthur to become President"--fails to capture the drama and historical context of this critical event. In Ackerman's hands, the story comes alive and with it an important chapter in American history. As I read this, I couldn't help thinking this would make a great movie. But in today's special effects obsessed film industry, I can't imagine it being made.
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Summary: History that reads like fiction
Review: This is a real "behind the scenes" look at the Republican convention of 1880, and its shocking nomination of James A. Garfield for President. It shows how the longlasting animosity between Roscoe Conkling and James G. Blaine resulted in a convention stalemate and an ultimate rush to Garfield as a compromise. It talks about the close election of that year, and goes into Garfield's stand against the vanity and just plain stubbornness of Conkling concerning the "spoils" of victory. It also traces the path of the assassin, and shows that he really was a demented soul, who felt he was doing his party, and the country, a favor by eliminating Garfield. It's an exciting book, and truly reads like the best of fiction. This is a really little known aspect of our history, and should be a "must read" for anyone interested in how our political system evolved into what it is today.
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING NON-FICTION AT ITS BEST!
Review: This is a remarkable and well-written piece about a time in America's history that has been forgotten. At times it reads like a novel and maintained my interest throughout. It was satisfying to appreciate that, despite the faults of our political system, it is so much better now than it was just three or four generations ago. I highly recommend this outstanding book.
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