Leo T. reviewed Dark Horse: the Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield on + 1775 more book reviews
Rather than with a forward, the book opens with a scene but this is not a popular history, in my estimation. The author is an attorney, with experience as a Congressional staffer, and a special inter4est in the politics and economics of the Gilded Age. He had carefully researched contemporary newspapers and journals and offers citations in the many pages of endnotes. This volume will be especially enjoyed by Polisci majors (I am not one) and the authors has an engaging style of writing.
I read his detailed recounting of the problems with nominations, the president being determined to appoint William H. Robertson to the plum of office of Collector of the Port of New York which led to many appointments being held up by Garfield's determination that Roscoe Conkling would not be the shot caller. Ackerman's own political experience informs his handling of the politics of 1880-1881.
There are eight people on thw wish list for this book so I will probably mail this book out without reading his take on Charles Guiteau, although it is praised by reviewers. (I am always on the look out for books/articles/chapters that can be used as supplementary reading in a high school US History class that asks students to read 100pp a week, thus sharpening their skills for work and college, and this is a little too esoteric for that purpose). However, Guiteau had done good work on the ground for the 1880 campaign and there were hordes seeking a salaried position. Actually, a huge percentage of the appointments available were 4th Class postmasterships where a storekeeper andeled the mails in exchange for $50 in stamps and postal stationery, with him keeping the proceeds in stamps sold or remaining. Some post offices were in places so small that there was only one general store and the office would not change hands when a different party captured the Executive Branch. Herman Herst, Jr. mentions a Vermont postmaster appointed by JQ Adams who died in office when TR was president.
Well indexed.
I read his detailed recounting of the problems with nominations, the president being determined to appoint William H. Robertson to the plum of office of Collector of the Port of New York which led to many appointments being held up by Garfield's determination that Roscoe Conkling would not be the shot caller. Ackerman's own political experience informs his handling of the politics of 1880-1881.
There are eight people on thw wish list for this book so I will probably mail this book out without reading his take on Charles Guiteau, although it is praised by reviewers. (I am always on the look out for books/articles/chapters that can be used as supplementary reading in a high school US History class that asks students to read 100pp a week, thus sharpening their skills for work and college, and this is a little too esoteric for that purpose). However, Guiteau had done good work on the ground for the 1880 campaign and there were hordes seeking a salaried position. Actually, a huge percentage of the appointments available were 4th Class postmasterships where a storekeeper andeled the mails in exchange for $50 in stamps and postal stationery, with him keeping the proceeds in stamps sold or remaining. Some post offices were in places so small that there was only one general store and the office would not change hands when a different party captured the Executive Branch. Herman Herst, Jr. mentions a Vermont postmaster appointed by JQ Adams who died in office when TR was president.
Well indexed.
