In 1881, the brilliant inventor Alexander Graham Bell was at the height of his fame, fresh off the remarkable success of the telephone. But when President James A. Garfield was shot by an assassin, Bell believed his latest invention – a pioneering metal detector – could help. Determined to locate the bullet and save the president’s life, Bell worked tirelessly alongside the team of doctors attending to Garfield. However, the metal detector failed to detect the bullet’s location, much to Bell’s growing frustration.

This came after an already turbulent path to the presidency for Garfield, who had emerged victorious from the bitterly contested 1880 Republican National Convention. The convention was a high-stakes political drama, with Garfield ultimately securing the nomination over the powerful political machine of Ulysses S. Grant.

As Garfield lingered in agony for 79 days, the nation watched helplessly. Tragically, the president ultimately succumbed to infection, and the failed invention only heightened the public’s heartbreak. This video explores the fateful story behind Bell’s metal detector, the political turmoil of Garfield’s 1880 nomination, and the personal tragedy that unfolded in Bell’s family. Through this captivating historical lens, we uncover the human drama, the limitations of 19th-century technology, and the tremendous personal toll on all those involved.

Click the image below to watch the video on YouTube.