James Garfield (1831 – 1881) was the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the House of Representatives. In 1872, he was one of a number of Congressmen involved in the Credit Mobilier scandal, in which numerous legislators received financial favors for their support of the railroad interests. As president, he supported a "universal" education system funded by the federal government, to help with the education of newly freed African Americans; however, federal funding for universal education did not pass during his presidency. Garfield was the first president to ever talk on the telephone. When he spoke to Alexander Graham Bell, who was at the other end 13 miles away, he said: “Please speak a little more slowly.” During his first year in office, James Garfield was assassinated.
