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The True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Death by Lightning’ and the Assassination of James A. Garfield

Charles Guiteau’s bullet didn’t kill the 20th president—it was ignorance, pride, and the tools meant to save his life.

By Tyler Piccotti
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death by lightning. mathew macfadyen as charles guiteau in episode 104 of death by lightning. cr. larry horricks/netflix © 2024

Charles Guiteau Failed at Everything in Life—Until He Shot and Killed President James A. Garfield

He thought God chose him for greatness. Netflix’s new series Death by Lightning reveals how that delusion ended in a shocking assassination.

By Michael Natale
former vice president dick cheney interviewed for "the presidents' gatekeepers"

Dick Cheney Lived Without a Pulse. Literally.

By Michael Natale
sydney sweeney smiles

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Euphoria’ Role Almost Didn’t Happen

By Catherine Caruso
dxnt04 aileen wuornos the selling of a serial killer, 1992

Was Aileen Wuornos the First Female Serial Killer?

By Tyler Piccotti
a dark haired man in a white shirt and snapback hat stands next to a blonde women wearing a greenish blue dress at a netflix premiere

The Real Romance That Inspired ‘Nobody Wants This’

By Catherine Caruso

Notable Now

president garfield

James A. Garfield

former us vice president dick cheney looks to the side

Dick Cheney

president chester a. arthur

Chester A. Arthur

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Nancy Pelosi

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True Crime

aileen wuornos a person with the hands up

Aileen Wuornos

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos led a vagabond lifestyle as a sex worker before she was found guilty of murdering six men in Florida in 1989 and 1990.

By Biography.com Editors, Catherine Caruso and Sara Kettler
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il mostro

The True Story Behind ‘The Monster of Florence’

key art for a netflix documentary

John Stanfa and Joey Merlino from ‘Mob War’ Now

philip c. testa

The True Story of the Philly Mob’s ‘Chicken Man’

a mugshot of john wayne gacy who looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression on his face, below his chin is a black marker that reads "police dept"

John Wayne Gacy

serial killer ed gein's house

What Happened to Ed Gein’s Infamous House?

woman sitting on a bed with photographs laid out in front of her

Daughter of the BTK Killer Speaks in New Doc

collage of clippings from newly released d.b. cooper files

FBI's New D.B. Cooper File Reveals New Facts

ted bundy sitting between lawyers in court

Did Ed Gein Help Capture Ted Bundy?

People You Should Know

a man in a black outfit and backward ball cap with an orange top stands on a smoky stage and sings into a microphone he holds with one hand

These 10 Latin Artists Changed Music Forever. Here’s How They Did It.

Bad Bunny, Shakira, and Selena are just a few artists who have popularized Latin music in the United States.

By Catherine Caruso
diana taurasi biting on an olympic medal

10 of the Greatest Hispanic American Athletes

By Tyler Piccotti
a man smiles and waves at the camera, he wears red and white robes with an ornate red and gold sash, a white cap, and glasses

24 Influential Hispanic Americans Who Made History

By Daisy Hernandez, Biography.com Editors and Ale Russian
stephen hawking smiles at the camera while sitting in his wheelchair in front of a green chalkboard with written equations, he wears a dark suit jacket and blue collared shirt with white pinstripes

22 Famous Scientists You Should Know

By Tyler Piccotti
ferdinand magellan with a crew of men sailing in a small boat as large ships wait in the background

10 Famous Explorers Who Connected the World

Athletes

alex rodriguez hosts boys & girls clubs of miami dade toy giveaway and holiday party

Alex Rodriguez

Martin V Acuna

The True Story of Boxer Christy Martin

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Cristiano Ronaldo

babe ruth holding up a baseball cap while wearing his yankees uniform inside a full baseball stadium

How Babe Ruth Became a Cancer Pioneer

Musicians

the beatles and muhammad ali

The Beatles & Muhammad Ali

afi fest 2025 presented by canva opening night "springsteen: deliver me from nowhere" premiere

The Jersey Shore Inspired Bruce Springsteen’s Work

"road diary: bruce springsteen & the e street band" new york premiere

Bruce Springsteen

afi fest 2025 presented by canva opening night "springsteen: deliver me from nowhere" premiere

Bruce Springsteen’s Relationship With His Father

BIO Buys

bubble lip serum, leighton meester at nobody wants this red carpet

Leighton Meester Loves This $10 Lip Serum for Hydration

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21 Must-Have Gifts for History Lovers

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The Best Gifts for College Students

wicked for good official trailer

Prime Members Can Watch ‘Wicked: For Good’ Early

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Culture

betty gilpin as lucretia garfield in “death by lightning”

How Lucretia Garfield Saved Her Husband’s Legacy

By Catherine Caruso
portrait of mary todd lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln Shut Herself in the White House

painting showing a woman leaning against a large rock with a brook in the background

Who Is the Real Ophelia from Taylor Swift’s Album?

By Tyler Piccotti
the statue of liberty on a clear day with blue skies

Who Was the Model for the Statue of Liberty?

By Donna Raskin

Scientists

james d watson attends event at american museum wearing black suit and bowtie

James D. Watson

time 100 summit 2019

Jane Goodall

jane goodall, english primatologist, ethologist, and anthropologist, with a chimpanzee in her arms, c. 1995

How Jane Goodall Became a Chimp Expert

a male astronaut smiles as he poses for a photo

James A. Lovell Jr.

Political Figures

death by lightning. michael shannon as james garfield in episode 103 of netflix death by lightning

How a Metal Detector Failed to Save James Garfield

portrait of presidents who died in office including james a garfield, whose story is told in the netflix series death by lightning

8 U.S. Presidents Who Have Died While in Office

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Dick Cheney Initially Hated Mentor Donald Rumsfeld

us cheney address

How Dick Cheney Went From Yale Dropout to VP

Activists

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The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

a statute of four men standing side by side in front of a college building

How the Greensboro Four Began the Sit-In Movement

a group of women ride in a horse drawn wagon with pro union signs followed by other horse drawn buggies, a group of people watch from the sidewalk

Who Founded Labor Day? One of These Two Men

a woman stares at the camera, she wears a large pendant necklace and a blouse with a wide collar

Alice Paul