The assassination of Charlie Kirk while speaking to students on a Utah college campus had brought the topic of political violence to the forefront of our national discourse. How his murder will affect the political fortunes of both parties is something that will be better discussed after years have passed and historians have the benefit of hindsight on their side. But if his memorial service, one that drew over 100,000 people to attend, and one where speaker after speaker vowed to expand the mission that Kirk founded, is any indication, it appears the short-term result will favor the political fortunes of the GOP as well.

In this episode, we are going to look at the political assassinations and their political consequences, involving three men who have been mostly forgotten by the mainstream American public: President James Garfield, President William McKinley, and Senator Huey Long of Louisiana. 

Host: Alan

Research: Elena, the Roots of Today archivist

Music by: Andrii Poradovskyi (lNPLUSMUSIC – Pixabay)

Show Notes: http://www.rootsoftoday.blog

FURTHER READING

James Garfield

Ackerman, Kenneth D. Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield. New York: Carroll & Graf, 2003.

Peskin, Allan. Garfield: A Biography. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1978.

Millard, Candice. Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President. New York: Doubleday, 2011.

William McKinley

Morgan, H. Wayne. William McKinley and His America. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2003.

Rove, Karl. The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.

Leech, Margaret. In the Days of McKinley. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1959.

Huey Long

Brinkley, Alan. Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and the Great Depression. New York: Vintage, 1983.

Hair, William Ivy. The Kingfish and His Realm: The Life and Times of Huey P. Long. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1991.

Williams, T. Harry. Huey Long. New York: Vintage, 1969.