Provides a biography of President James Garfield, detailing his childhood, education, and rise through the ranks of politics to being elected president, and examines the circumstances surrounding his assassination by Charles Guiteau. Outlines his relationship with Guiteau, the plot, the execution, and Garfield's death at the hands of ill-informed doctors. Includes a glossary, a timeline, and further resources.

Washington, 1881 -- Log cabin boy -- A dark horse -- The loner -- The vow -- Stalkiing -- Rendezvous with history -- In shock -- Uncertainty -- "The nation's patient" -- The channel of pus -- Elberon -- Return home -- The missing bullet -- The trial -- The rest of the story.