Dr. Todd Arrington
@btarrington.bsky.social
Former Eisenhower Presidential Library Director & James A. Garfield NHS Site Manager. Historian. Writer. Army veteran. History Ph.D. Until recently, a career civil servant. Currently unemployed (not by choice). #ParkChat Hall of Famer.
“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to & you have found out the exact measure of injustice & wrong that will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both.”
~Frederick Douglass, 1857.
Image: New York Historical Society.
~Frederick Douglass, 1857.
Image: New York Historical Society.
November 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to & you have found out the exact measure of injustice & wrong that will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both.”
~Frederick Douglass, 1857.
Image: New York Historical Society.
~Frederick Douglass, 1857.
Image: New York Historical Society.
Here’s a handy graphic of Garfield books that my friends and former colleagues at James A. Garfield National Historic Site recently posted on social media.
November 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Here’s a handy graphic of Garfield books that my friends and former colleagues at James A. Garfield National Historic Site recently posted on social media.
“It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in a country where virtue and knowledge prevail.”
~Attributed to Samuel Adams.
Image: Samuel Adams portrait by John Singleton Copley. Public domain.
~Attributed to Samuel Adams.
Image: Samuel Adams portrait by John Singleton Copley. Public domain.
November 29, 2025 at 1:17 PM
“It is in the interest of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they cannot live in a country where virtue and knowledge prevail.”
~Attributed to Samuel Adams.
Image: Samuel Adams portrait by John Singleton Copley. Public domain.
~Attributed to Samuel Adams.
Image: Samuel Adams portrait by John Singleton Copley. Public domain.
“Death by Lightning” fans… On Nov. 28, 1881, Charles Guiteau took the stand in his own defense during his trial for murdering President James A. Garfield, stating that the shooting was politically necessary & inspired by God.
Image: Guiteau on the witness stand. Historical Soc. of the DC Circuit.
Image: Guiteau on the witness stand. Historical Soc. of the DC Circuit.
November 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
“Death by Lightning” fans… On Nov. 28, 1881, Charles Guiteau took the stand in his own defense during his trial for murdering President James A. Garfield, stating that the shooting was politically necessary & inspired by God.
Image: Guiteau on the witness stand. Historical Soc. of the DC Circuit.
Image: Guiteau on the witness stand. Historical Soc. of the DC Circuit.
"I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable Asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong."
~George Washington to Francis Adrian van der Kemp, May 28, 1788.
Image: Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, 1804. Public domain.
~George Washington to Francis Adrian van der Kemp, May 28, 1788.
Image: Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, 1804. Public domain.
November 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable Asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong."
~George Washington to Francis Adrian van der Kemp, May 28, 1788.
Image: Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, 1804. Public domain.
~George Washington to Francis Adrian van der Kemp, May 28, 1788.
Image: Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington, 1804. Public domain.
“Death by Lightning” episode one explained.
November 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“Death by Lightning” episode one explained.
“Let us at this season of Thanksgiving perform deeds of thanksgiving; and, throughout the year, let us fulfill those obligations of citizenship and humanity which spring from grateful hearts.”
~President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nov. 1959.
Image: Eisenhower Presidential Library.
~President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nov. 1959.
Image: Eisenhower Presidential Library.
November 27, 2025 at 10:07 PM
“Let us at this season of Thanksgiving perform deeds of thanksgiving; and, throughout the year, let us fulfill those obligations of citizenship and humanity which spring from grateful hearts.”
~President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nov. 1959.
Image: Eisenhower Presidential Library.
~President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Nov. 1959.
Image: Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Today I’m thankful for those who take an oath and remember it.
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Today I’m thankful for those who take an oath and remember it.
“I feel that my services to the country should speak for themselves, rather than I should speak for them or of them. Perhaps the customs of the times will modify this…but I hope not.”
~Congressman James A. Garfield on refusing to campaign for a US Senate seat, 11/23/1879.
Image: Smithsonian.
~Congressman James A. Garfield on refusing to campaign for a US Senate seat, 11/23/1879.
Image: Smithsonian.
November 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
“I feel that my services to the country should speak for themselves, rather than I should speak for them or of them. Perhaps the customs of the times will modify this…but I hope not.”
~Congressman James A. Garfield on refusing to campaign for a US Senate seat, 11/23/1879.
Image: Smithsonian.
~Congressman James A. Garfield on refusing to campaign for a US Senate seat, 11/23/1879.
Image: Smithsonian.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Image: from someone’s eBay page. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.
Image: from someone’s eBay page. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.
November 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Image: from someone’s eBay page. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.
Image: from someone’s eBay page. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.
I’m an Army guy myself, but right now I’m proud to fly a “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag more associated with the Navy. It’s my BlueSky profile banner now. Please use it for yours if you wish. Let’s get as many people as we can to do so. It’s a small thing, but even small things matter right now.
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I’m an Army guy myself, but right now I’m proud to fly a “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag more associated with the Navy. It’s my BlueSky profile banner now. Please use it for yours if you wish. Let’s get as many people as we can to do so. It’s a small thing, but even small things matter right now.
In every generation, there comes a time when you must publicly declare which side you’re on. That time is now. Tell me: where do you stand?
Think carefully, for your answer to this question will redound to the ages…
Does listening to an audiobook count as reading?
Image: ReadingPartners.org.
Think carefully, for your answer to this question will redound to the ages…
Does listening to an audiobook count as reading?
Image: ReadingPartners.org.
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
In every generation, there comes a time when you must publicly declare which side you’re on. That time is now. Tell me: where do you stand?
Think carefully, for your answer to this question will redound to the ages…
Does listening to an audiobook count as reading?
Image: ReadingPartners.org.
Think carefully, for your answer to this question will redound to the ages…
Does listening to an audiobook count as reading?
Image: ReadingPartners.org.
It’s exactly as terrible as it sounds.
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
It’s exactly as terrible as it sounds.
I hereby present to you the 2026 America the Beautiful annual pass to national parks & federal recreation lands.
I am not making this up. Per Department of the Interior, this is what the 2026 pass looks like.
And more good news: June 14 is a fee free day for “Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday.”
I am not making this up. Per Department of the Interior, this is what the 2026 pass looks like.
And more good news: June 14 is a fee free day for “Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday.”
November 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I hereby present to you the 2026 America the Beautiful annual pass to national parks & federal recreation lands.
I am not making this up. Per Department of the Interior, this is what the 2026 pass looks like.
And more good news: June 14 is a fee free day for “Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday.”
I am not making this up. Per Department of the Interior, this is what the 2026 pass looks like.
And more good news: June 14 is a fee free day for “Flag Day/President Trump’s birthday.”
A MAGA we can all get behind.
M ake
A merica
G arfield
A gain
Image: Library of Congress.
M ake
A merica
G arfield
A gain
Image: Library of Congress.
November 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A MAGA we can all get behind.
M ake
A merica
G arfield
A gain
Image: Library of Congress.
M ake
A merica
G arfield
A gain
Image: Library of Congress.
“The people—the people—are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts—not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
“The people—the people—are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts—not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
My friends and former colleagues at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum get all the credit for this one. I don’t think they’ll mind if I share it.
If you’re so inclined and happen to be on any of these platforms, please follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.
If you’re so inclined and happen to be on any of these platforms, please follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My friends and former colleagues at the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum get all the credit for this one. I don’t think they’ll mind if I share it.
If you’re so inclined and happen to be on any of these platforms, please follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.
If you’re so inclined and happen to be on any of these platforms, please follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and YouTube.
Beautiful Lake Erie sunset this evening.
This picture would’ve been much better if I’d gotten there about 15 minutes earlier.
This picture would’ve been much better if I’d gotten there about 15 minutes earlier.
November 24, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Beautiful Lake Erie sunset this evening.
This picture would’ve been much better if I’d gotten there about 15 minutes earlier.
This picture would’ve been much better if I’d gotten there about 15 minutes earlier.
“Death by Lightning” fans: please enjoy my interpretation of the fight for the 1880 Republican presidential nomination in convenient meme form.
November 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
“Death by Lightning” fans: please enjoy my interpretation of the fight for the 1880 Republican presidential nomination in convenient meme form.
“It would at least be decent to wait until the grass is green on the graves of our murdered patriots.”
~Congressman James A. Garfield, 8/5/1865, on the prospect of former Confederates being seated as members of Congress.
Image: Architect of the Capitol. www.aoc.gov/explore-capi....
~Congressman James A. Garfield, 8/5/1865, on the prospect of former Confederates being seated as members of Congress.
Image: Architect of the Capitol. www.aoc.gov/explore-capi....
November 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
“It would at least be decent to wait until the grass is green on the graves of our murdered patriots.”
~Congressman James A. Garfield, 8/5/1865, on the prospect of former Confederates being seated as members of Congress.
Image: Architect of the Capitol. www.aoc.gov/explore-capi....
~Congressman James A. Garfield, 8/5/1865, on the prospect of former Confederates being seated as members of Congress.
Image: Architect of the Capitol. www.aoc.gov/explore-capi....
Hey everyone, I’m really worried about one of our dogs. She just can’t seem to relax.
November 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Hey everyone, I’m really worried about one of our dogs. She just can’t seem to relax.
My favorite t-shirt. And my favorite fact.
I got it from the online store of the National World War I Museum if you’re interested in getting one of your own.
shop.theworldwar.org
I got it from the online store of the National World War I Museum if you’re interested in getting one of your own.
shop.theworldwar.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 AM
My favorite t-shirt. And my favorite fact.
I got it from the online store of the National World War I Museum if you’re interested in getting one of your own.
shop.theworldwar.org
I got it from the online store of the National World War I Museum if you’re interested in getting one of your own.
shop.theworldwar.org
The Lake Erie shoreline near my neighborhood this afternoon.
November 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Lake Erie shoreline near my neighborhood this afternoon.
Today is both James Garfield’s birthday AND Gettysburg Address anniversary.
This 11/13/1863 letter from Maj. Gen. Garfield to OH Gov. David Tod is Garfield’s negative RSVP to Tod’s invitation to attend Gettysburg Nat’l Cemetery dedication…at which Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address.
Image: LOC.
This 11/13/1863 letter from Maj. Gen. Garfield to OH Gov. David Tod is Garfield’s negative RSVP to Tod’s invitation to attend Gettysburg Nat’l Cemetery dedication…at which Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address.
Image: LOC.
November 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Today is both James Garfield’s birthday AND Gettysburg Address anniversary.
This 11/13/1863 letter from Maj. Gen. Garfield to OH Gov. David Tod is Garfield’s negative RSVP to Tod’s invitation to attend Gettysburg Nat’l Cemetery dedication…at which Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address.
Image: LOC.
This 11/13/1863 letter from Maj. Gen. Garfield to OH Gov. David Tod is Garfield’s negative RSVP to Tod’s invitation to attend Gettysburg Nat’l Cemetery dedication…at which Lincoln delivered Gettysburg Address.
Image: LOC.