dr. willard bliss. that's right, his first name was doctor. [laughter] his parents had named him doctor bliss was a well-known surgeon with a practice and in fact he had been one of the doctors at abraham lincoln's bedside that he had far from a sterling reputation. he had enthusiasticly sold something which was supposed to cure cancer, syphilis, ulcers, chronic blood diseases, you name it. list had even been disgraced for - bliss had even been disgraced for taking bribes after he spends a small amount of time in prison. when robert todd lincoln who was garfield's secretary of war bliss saw in this national tragedy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fame and power. he immediately took charge of the president's medical care even though no one had given him the authority. he just took it. he dismissed the other doctors and he completely isolated garfield in a sick room in the white house. he wouldn't even let him see his secretary of state. and what happened in that room inside the white house, is nothing short of horrifying. bliss and a few s