One of the rockiest Presidential courtships had to be that of James Garfield and Lucretia Rudolph. It was some five years between when they started courting and when they were married. When they were apart they could write loving letters, but when they met in person,there was a coldness..mostly on James' part. He was very emotional, while "Crete" held in her feelings.James also had several other relationships with other women during this time. When they married, it was more out of "duty" since they had been together for so long it was expected that they should wed.