Destiny of the Republic

Episode aired Nov 6, 2025
TV-MA
1h 6m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

895

YOUR RATING

Michael Shannon and Betty Gilpin in Death by Lightning (2025)

Period DramaBiographyDramaHistory

Conkling goes on the offensive as Garfield challenges the New York political machine. Isolated and desperate, Guiteau weighs a history-making decision.Conkling goes on the offensive as Garfield challenges the New York political machine. Isolated and desperate, Guiteau weighs a history-making decision.Conkling goes on the offensive as Garfield challenges the New York political machine. Isolated and desperate, Guiteau weighs a history-making decision.

Director
- Matt Ross
Writers
- Mike Makowsky
- Candice Millard
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

895

YOUR RATING

Director
- Matt Ross
Writers
- Mike Makowsky
- Candice Millard
Stars

4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Episodes

Photos1

User reviews4

8.2895

Related interests

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Storyline

Did you know

Trivia
"Dr. Charles Purvis" (Shaun Parkes) attended President Garfield after he was shot by an assassin on July 2, 1881. This made him the first black physician to attend to a sitting president. Later in 1881 Purvis was appointed by President Chester Arthur as Surgeon-in-Charge at the Freedmen's hospital, serving from October 1, 1881, to 1894.

Goofs
Mrs. Garfield uses the word 'trivia' in her conversation with Guiteau. In English, 'Trivia' did not become established in its present meaning until 1902.

Quotes
Crete Garfield: I lied to my family. Told them I was seeing to affairs in New York. Nobody knows I'm here aside from the warden. But I... could not let you go. I had to meet you first.
Charles Guiteau: Well, we have met before, Mrs. Garfield. We spoke at the ball at your husband's inauguration. You struck me as kind, and I pray for all your family...
Crete Garfield: If you think I welcome prayer from you, you are fiercely mistaken. I'm not here to give you absolution. I think about the last question he ever asked me the day he died. He said, "Do you figure my name might have some place in history?" That question has some merit in it. And I said history would remember him grandly. But it felt so strange coming out of my mouth because I... I didn't believe it. My last words to him were a lie. Because in reality, I know history won't remember him at all. Be no reason to. Be a minor footnote at best. An idle piece of trivia. "Do you recall poor old what's-his-name who was shot three months into his presidency?" And they won't ever know about the man that he truly was. The hero who waged wars. Who would slip me stupid little love poems in made-up Latin. Who would do headstands and sing show tunes just to see his children laugh. No. Surely no one will ever know that man. America may mourn him today, but as the years pass by, they'll forget. And I can... Feel him waning away. Even now. In no time, he'll just be another face on the wall. Lost to history. But then again... So will you. This is your destiny also. Only in your case, there will be no portraits. No children will learn your name.
Charles Guiteau: You don't know what you're saying.
Crete Garfield: I do. In fact, I'm going to see to it myself. I understand you've written a book. I will make sure it is never printed. Ever. Not while anyone who cares still draws breath. You will have no voice once you exit from this world. I will erase you, as you did to the man I loved most.
Charles Guiteau: No. You can't because you don't have the right.
Crete Garfield: I've already done it, Mr. Guiteau. I came here because I wanted you to know when you are on your way up to those gallows... They will forget you.