S2 E10: James Garfield - The Lightning President!

In this electrifying season finale of the Beyond the Rabbit Hole podcast, Ken dives deep into the life and legacy of President James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. president whose brief tenure was cut tragically short by an assassin’s bullet—and a medical disaster that followed. But this isn’t your average history lesson.

Ken kicks things off with a passionate review of the docudrama series “Death by Lightning”, which dramatizes Garfield’s meteoric rise from log cabin scholar to Civil War general to reluctant president. He breaks down the series’ strengths—its gritty realism, sharp performances, and haunting portrayal of the political chaos of 1881.

Just as Ken begins unpacking the medical malpractice that arguably doomed Garfield more than the bullet itself, Doc bursts in with absurdist flair. The episode balances historical depth with playful absurdity, as Doc’s tangents lead to unexpected insights—like who (or what) was behind Garfield’s shooting.