James A. Garfield: the record and the legends

Canal Boy. The 20th president, 1881, from Ohio. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 20th
In office: 1881
Home state: Ohio
Party: Republican
Height: 6'0"

The record

RecordAt 16, Garfield spent six weeks driving the horse teams that pulled canal boats between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He fell into the canal 14 times.Source: Miller Center, Garfield: Life Before the Presidency
RecordGarfield was strong enough, even as president, to carry his elderly mother up and down the White House stairs.Source: Miller Center, Garfield: Family Life
RecordSenator Roscoe Conkling expected to pick who ran the New York customs house, as senators always had. Garfield picked his own man instead. Conkling resigned in protest, and Garfield won the standoff.Source: White House Historical Association, James Garfield
RecordGarfield was the last president born in a log cabin.Source: White House Historical Association, James Garfield

The legends

LegendYou'll read that Garfield could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time. He really was ambidextrous, and he knew both languages well enough to teach them. The two-hands-at-once trick has no evidence behind it.Source: Miller Center, Garfield: Life Before the Presidency

What he cared about

Taking federal jobs back from party bosses and putting the president in charge of appointments.
Saving taxpayer money by refinancing government debt at lower interest.
Education for Black Americans, and appointing Black leaders like Frederick Douglass and Blanche K. Bruce to federal posts.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Canal towpath strength, Union general

Garfield grew up doing hard physical work, then led troops from the front in the Civil War. In the ring he's a big, strong wrestler who keeps coming.

See POTUS KO

Questions about James A. Garfield

Could James Garfield write Latin and Greek at the same time?

You'll read that Garfield could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time. He really was ambidextrous, and he knew both languages well enough to teach them. The two-hands-at-once trick has no evidence behind it.

Was James Garfield born in a log cabin?

Garfield was the last president born in a log cabin.

What did James Garfield do as a teenager?

At 16, Garfield spent six weeks driving the horse teams that pulled canal boats between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He fell into the canal 14 times.