 James Abram Garfield ( November 19 , 1831 – September 19 , 1881 ) was the 20th President of the United States , serving from March 4 , 1881 , until his assassination later that year . Garfield had served nine terms in the House of Representatives , and had been elected to the Senate before his candidacy for the White House , though he declined the senatorship once he was president @-@ elect . He is the only sitting House member to be elected president . 
