CURRICULUM FOR ONLINE ARTICLE: James Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving only a few months in 1881 before dying from a gunshot wound. His time as President was mainly spent in argument with Stephen Roscoe Conkling, leader of the New York Customs House. Garfield had strengthened federal authority over that area. His presidency was ended when he was shot by an angry attorney and died several days later from an infection and internal hemorrhage.