 Garfield graduated from Williams in August 1856 as salutatorian , giving an address at the commencement . Garfield biographer Ira Rutkow pointed out that the future president 's years at Williams gave Garfield the opportunity to know and respect those of different social backgrounds , and despite his origin as an unsophisticated Westerner , he was liked and respected by socially conscious New Englanders . " In short , " as Rutkow later wrote , " Garfield had an extensive and positive first experience with the world outside the Western Reserve of Ohio . " 
