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[[Charles J. Guiteau]], a mentally ill office seeker and former Democrat, supported Ulysses S. Grant in the 1880 Republican primaries. Believing that simply backing a Republican would be enough to obtain him a government job due to the spoils system nature.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Guiteau prepared a fiery speech to draw out enthusiasm for Grant, only to replace all mentions of him with "Garfield" when the Ohio Republican was instead nominated.

[[Charles J. Guiteau]], a mentally ill office seeker and former Democrat, supported Ulysses S. Grant in the 1880 Republican primaries. Believing that simply backing a Republican would be enough to obtain him a government job due to the spoils system nature.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Guiteau prepared a fiery speech to draw out enthusiasm for Grant, only to replace all mentions of him with "Garfield" when the Ohio Republican was instead nominated.

[[File:Guiteau1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Undated picture of Guiteau.]]

[[File:Guiteau1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Undated picture of Guiteau, who believed murdering Garfield would maintain the spoils system.]]

Instead of speaking in front a loud audience that heavily applauded his speech, Guiteau only spoke towards a small puzzled crowd, and continuously begged party leaders in order to be given the opportunity.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Absurdly believing that Garfield's ultimate narrow victory was attributed to his speech, Guiteau believed that he was deserving of a high-ranking position. He sought a consulship to [[Paris]] and drew harsh irritation from Blaine, who snapped:<ref name=npsbasicinfo/><ref name=guiteauinsanity>Bellamy, Jay. [https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/fall/guiteau A Stalwart of Stalwarts: Garfield’s Assassin Sees Deed as a Special Duty]. ''National Archives''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>

Instead of speaking in front a loud audience that heavily applauded his speech, Guiteau only spoke towards a small puzzled crowd, and continuously begged party leaders in order to be given the opportunity.<ref name=npsbasicinfo/> Absurdly believing that Garfield's ultimate narrow victory was attributed to his speech, Guiteau believed that he was deserving of a high-ranking position. He sought a consulship to [[Paris]] and drew harsh irritation from Blaine, who snapped:<ref name=npsbasicinfo/><ref name=guiteauinsanity>Bellamy, Jay. [https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/fall/guiteau A Stalwart of Stalwarts: Garfield’s Assassin Sees Deed as a Special Duty]. ''National Archives''. Retrieved November 28, 2021.</ref>

{{cquote|Do not ask me about the Paris consulship ever again!|||James Gillespie Blaine, May 14, 1881}}

{{cquote|Do not ask me about the Paris consulship ever again!|||James Gillespie Blaine, May 14, 1881}}