How accurate is Death by Lightning? Fact-checking new Netflix series

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The new Netflix historical drama, ‘Death By Lightning,’ is getting a lot of positive attention. But how much of the show is based on real events?

Death by Lightning tells the story of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President, played by Michael Shannon, and his assassin, Charles Guiteau, portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen.

The entire four-episode series is now available on Netflix. It begins with a title card stating: “This is a true story about two men history has overlooked—the 20th President of the United States and the man who shot him.”

How accurate is the show ‘Death by Lightning’? We’ll examine the truth behind four important scenes. Be warned: spoilers follow…

Was Charles Guiteau’s brain kept in a jar?

Yes, the US government really kept assassin Charles Guiteau’s brain in a jar.

I was totally fascinated to learn how this story begins! Apparently, back in 1969, someone discovered a jar at an Army Medical Museum in Washington DC. And get this – the creator of the ‘Death by Lightning’ series, Mike Makowsky, told USA Today that officials actually removed Guiteau’s brain after he died and kept it as a medical sample. It’s pretty wild to think about!

According to Makowsky, doctors at the time didn’t have the technology to examine the brain and understand what they were seeing. As a result, they preserved it, and it was largely forgotten for many years.

The showrunner was able to see the brain, which is being kept at a medical facility in Maryland.

Did the President have no protection?

It’s true that presidents in the 1800s didn’t have dedicated security. The Secret Service didn’t begin protecting the president until the early 1900s.

Back then, presidents held daily ‘office hours’ at the White House, meaning anyone could come and speak with them directly, says Makowsky.

That’s depicted in the show via a somewhat chaotic meeting with constituents.

According to Makowsky, people in President Garfield’s time couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to harm the president, despite the assassination of Lincoln fifteen years earlier. However, Lincoln’s death happened right after the Civil War, during a period of intense political tension.

The show’s title actually comes from a darkly humorous line spoken in Episode 3. When James’s wife, Lucretia, asks about hiring bodyguards, he replies that preventing an assassination is as impossible as avoiding being struck by lightning, and it’s best not to dwell on either possibility.

Was James A. Garfield loyal to his wife?

Okay, so get this – before James Garfield was President, but while he was married, there’s a rumor he had a thing with Kate Sprague. And the really messy part? She was with Roscoe Conkling, who was Garfield’s political rival! It’s some serious historical drama, honestly.

The show doesn’t show their relationship, but Garfield does confide in Lucretia – shown in the picture – telling her she’s the only person who knows he’s far from being a remarkable person.

According to Makowsky, there was at least a very close friendship between the woman and Garfield, particularly when Garfield was more established in Washington D.C.

Was Garfield killed by an infection?

Although Charles Guiteau shot President Garfield, it’s believed he didn’t actually die from the gunshot wound. Instead, it’s more likely that infection – possibly due to unsanitary medical practices at the time – or another complication was the true cause of death.

In the story, a doctor cautions the surgeon operating on Garfield about the risk of infection, pointing out that the tools haven’t been cleaned well enough. The surgeon dismisses these concerns as old beliefs rather than being based on scientific evidence.

A PBS article, reported by USA Today, explains that President Garfield likely died from sepsis – a blood infection – contracted during his medical treatment. While doctors’ unwashed hands were often blamed, the article points out that it was the 1880s, a time known as the Gilded Age, when medical practices were often unsanitary and many doctors didn’t believe in germs. This means the infection could have come from numerous sources.

You can now watch ‘Death by Lightning’ on Netflix. If you’re looking for other great shows, check out our lists of the best shows available on Netflix and the top TV shows of 2025 so far.

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2025-11-10 17:50