 For a few years after his assassination , Garfield 's life story was seen as an exemplar of the American success story : that even the poorest boy might someday become President of the United States . Peskin noted that " in mourning Garfield , Americans were not only honoring a president ; they were paying tribute to a man whose life story embodied their own most cherished aspirations " . As the rivalry between Stalwarts and Half @-@ Breeds faded from the scene in the late 1880s and after , so too did memories of Garfield . Beginning in 1882 , the year after Garfield 's death , the U.S. Post Office began issuing postage stamps honoring the late President . Despite his short term as President , nine different issues were printed over the years . In the 1890s , Americans became disillusioned with politicians , and looked elsewhere for inspiration , focusing on industrialists , labor leaders , scientists , and others as their heroes . Increasingly , Garfield 's short time as president was forgotten . 
