James A‭. ‬Garfield‭ (‬1831-1881‭): ‬The only preacher president

President James Abram Garfield (1831-1881) was born in Orange Township, Ohio, the last president to be born in a cabin. He was America’s 20th president, but only served for a few months before being assassinated in July 1881 by a disgruntled opponent. 

His father died when he was only 2 years old, and he grew up with his widowed mother and his other siblings. He helped support the family with various jobs, such as a farm hand, carpenter and canal boatman. He had a sharp mind and excelled in school in Greek and Latin and helped pay his way through college as a preacher. This young man, who later became president, was an ordained Christian minister and has the distinction of being the only president of the United States who was an ordained minister. He desired for America to be a God-fearing nation, was strongly anti-slavery and he believed that Christians should be involved in civil government. 

James attended Hiram College, studied law there, taught there and at the age of 26 was chosen to be president of this college. At the start of the Civil War, at age 31, he was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army, then promoted to Brigadier General and again as Major General. While still in the military he was elected to the U.S. Congress and served there for 18 years. He was next elected to the U.S. Senate. In 1880, he was elected to be the 20th United States President but served only 200 days before his assassination. 

In a speech following his election, he said this to America: “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature … If the next centennial does not find us a great nation with a great and worthy Congress, it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture and the morality of the nation, dot not aid in controlling the political forces.”

James A. Garfield is one of America’s lesser-known presidents due to his short term in office. He was, however, a gentleman of faith, integrity and was highly respected by America’s citizens. It was as a preacher that he would be remembered in a special way. In 1929, a church was founded in McLean, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from our nation’s Capita, and named the Garfield Memorial Christian Church. He is remembered as the Preacher-President.

Peace!