The Tragic True Story Behind Death by Lightning

Nivedita Dubey
November 15, 2025

Summary

Netflix’s Death by Lightning revisits the assassination of President James Garfield and the events that led to it.
The series explores Garfield’s rise, his short presidency, and Charles Guiteau’s delusional motive.
The show highlights how political obsession and alienation shaped one of America’s most shocking murders.

Death by Lightning, now streaming on Netflix from November 6, 2025, examines the real events surrounding the assassination of President James Garfield. The limited series traces Garfield’s unexpected rise, his promising but short-lived presidency, and the disturbing path that led Charles Guiteau from admirer to killer. The story blends political history with personal tragedy to show how a single act reshaped the nation.

What Is the True Story Behind Death by Lightning?

Death by Lightning _ Official Trailer _ Netflix

Netflix’s Death by Lightning follows the real assassination of President James Garfield, who was shot on July 2, 1881—just four months after taking office. Garfield, then 49, died several months later from his injuries, ending one of the shortest presidencies in U.S. history.

The show begins at the heated 1880 Republican National Convention in Chicago, where Garfield wasn’t even a candidate—yet ended up winning the nomination after 36 rounds of voting. Delegates couldn’t agree on front-runners John Sherman, James Blaine, or Ulysses S. Grant. When Garfield delivered a rousing speech on Sherman’s behalf, delegates shifted their support to him instead. His charisma and reputation as a unifier helped propel him to the presidency.

Garfield took office on March 4, 1881, with Chester Arthur as his vice president. His administration barely had time to take shape before tragedy intervened. Yet his brief time in office wasn’t without purpose. He began early work toward civil service reform, including what later became the Pendleton Act legislation that aimed to reduce patronage and require merit-based hiring for federal positions.

In the series, viewers see Garfield portrayed as a man of intellect, humility, and principle. But to understand why his assassination hit the nation so hard, it helps to see how remarkable his rise truly was.

What Made James Garfield’s Presidency and Life So Extraordinary?

James Garfield’s path to the presidency is often described as a classic American story—one built on hard work, perseverance, and talent. Born into poverty near Cleveland, Ohio, Garfield lost his father as an infant and was raised by his single mother. Money was scarce, but his determination wasn’t.

He worked as a school janitor while studying at the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute in Hiram, Ohio, later transferring to Williams College. By just 27, he was already a preacher, state senator, and college president. His career only accelerated from there.

Garfield’s early achievements included:

Becoming president of the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute (1857–1861).
Serving as the youngest Union Army general during the Civil War.
Winning eight consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1863–1881).
Helping pass the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
Advocating for Black suffrage and supporting the Freedmen’s Bureau.
Establishing the federal Department of Education.
Arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Even writing a proof of the Pythagorean theorem while serving in Congress.

Tim Garfield, the president’s great-great-grandson, has noted that while Garfield didn’t have time to build a robust policy legacy, his intellect and integrity were undeniable. To truly understand his importance, he argues, you must look at the depth of his writing, his speeches, and his service before taking office.

Garfield intended to reshape the federal government by tackling corruption and strengthening the civil service system. But his assassination cut that vision short.

Why Did Charles Guiteau Kill President Garfield?

One of the central questions in Death by Lightning is: why would a man who once admired Garfield ultimately decide to kill him? The answer lies in Charles Guiteau’s escalating delusions.

Guiteau became fixated on Garfield after hearing his convention speech in 1880. Convinced he played a role in Garfield’s victory, Guiteau believed he deserved a government position specifically, an ambassadorship to France. This belief had no grounding in reality. He had never worked in diplomacy, nor did he have any connection to France. But his self-importance, combined with a fragile mental state, fueled the conviction that the administration owed him a reward.

When repeated attempts to meet Garfield and secure a position failed, Guiteau’s frustration deepened. The series portrays some fictionalized moments—such as Guiteau going on a bender with Vice President Arthur—but his real behavior was troubling enough. He stalked political offices, approached Garfield publicly, and fixated on the idea that killing the president would elevate his own status.

Candice Millard, whose book Destiny of the Republic inspired the series, described Guiteau’s mindset as one driven by grand delusions. He had previously lived in a free-love commune, where he refused to participate in labor because he believed he was too important for manual tasks. His life reflected a pattern of entitlement and instability.

In Death by Lightning, we see Guiteau carefully selecting the ivory-handled .44 British Bulldog revolver—choosing it because he believed it would appear “museum-worthy.” On July 2, 1881, at the Baltimore and Potomac train station in Washington, D.C., he approached Garfield from behind and shot him. Garfield was preparing to travel with his sons to visit Williams College, his alma mater.

Guiteau didn’t flee. Instead, he announced, “I did it! Take me to jail! Now Chester Arthur will be President!” He believed he had saved the nation, and that the new administration would reward him.

Six months later, after a high-profile trial, Guiteau was found guilty and executed on June 30, 1882.

How Does Death by Lightning Connect Past Events to Modern Themes?

Series creator Mike Makowsky has emphasized that Guiteau’s story isn’t just a historical moment it also reflects modern patterns. Guiteau’s alienation, his hunger for recognition, and his belief that violence would secure his place in history echo some of today’s political challenges.

The series doesn’t excuse his actions, but it helps viewers understand how obsession, rejection, and delusion can converge into something catastrophic. It also highlights the vulnerabilities of political leaders in a time before modern security protections.

While Death by Lightning focuses on Garfield’s era, its themes resonate strongly with contemporary conversations about political violence and public figures’ safety.

What Happened After Garfield’s Assassination?

Garfield’s death had ripple effects across the government. Chester Arthur, once considered an unlikely reformer, went on to sign the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883. This landmark law aimed to reduce corruption by requiring merit-based testing for certain federal jobs.

Though Garfield didn’t live to see it, his early push for reform played a role in shaping the act’s direction. His assassination also spurred conversations about presidential security, medical care, and mental health debates that would continue for decades.

Garfield’s legacy endures in his writings, his speeches, and the many institutions that still commemorate his work, including the Garfield Trail in Ohio.