The Story of Garfield is a classic American history book by William G. Rutherford that is a definitive biography of the American president, James Garfield. James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 September 19, 1881) was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his assassination later that year. Garfield had served nine terms in the House of Representatives, and had been elected to the Senate before his candidacy for the White House, though he declined the Senate seat once he was elected president. He is the only sitting House member to be elected president.