James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 - September 19, 1881) was the 20th (1881) President of the United States and the 2nd President to be assassinated (killed while in office). President Garfield was in office from March to September of 1881. He was in office for a total of six months and fifteen days. For almost half that time he was bedridden as a result of an attempt to kill him. He was shot on July 2 and finally died in September the same year he got into office.