Assassination attempts on U.S. presidents and candidates have been a tragic and disturbing part of American history for many years. From the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 to the recent attempt on the life of President Donald Trump in 2018, these attacks have had a profound impact on the nation. This timeline will delve into some of the most notorious and lesser-known assassination attempts on U.S. presidents and candidates, shedding light on the individuals responsible for these despicable acts and the lasting influence they have had on American politics.
The Attempt on President Donald Trump’s Life
Former President Donald Trump was wounded during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania. Although he sustained injuries to his right ear, he was safely escorted off the stage with blood visible on his ear and cheek following the shooting. Tragically, one spectator lost their life, and two others were seriously injured in the attack at the Butler Farm Show in Butler City. The Secret Service swiftly neutralized the suspected assailant, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Pennsylvania.
Infamous Cases of Assassination Attempts
Since the inception of the United States, four presidents and one presidential candidate have been assassinated. Here are some notable instances where U.S. presidents and prominent candidates were targeted in assassination attempts:
1865, Abraham Lincoln (16th president) – Assassinated while attending a theater play with his spouse in Washington, DC, by John Wilkes Booth. Despite receiving medical treatment, Lincoln succumbed to his injuries the following morning. Booth was later found hiding in a barn in Virginia and was fatally shot.
1881, James Garfield (20th president) – Shot while walking at a train station in Washington, DC, six months into his presidency. He passed away from his wounds a few weeks later. Charles Guiteau, the assailant, was convicted and executed the following year.
1901, William McKinley (25th president) – Shot at close range after delivering a speech in New York. McKinley initially showed signs of recovery but ultimately succumbed to infection from the bullet wounds. The shooter, Leon F Czolgosz, confessed to the crime and was put to death shortly after.
1912, Theodore Roosevelt (candidate) – Roosevelt, a former president, survived an assassination attempt in Milwaukee while campaigning for the White House. Although he survived the shooting, the bullet remained lodged in his chest for the rest of his life.
1933, Franklin Roosevelt (32nd president) – Roosevelt was the target of an assassination attempt in Miami by Giuseppe Zangara, an Italian immigrant. While Roosevelt emerged unscathed, the mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak, lost his life in the attack.
Continuation of Assassination Attempts
1963, John F Kennedy (35th president) – Fatally shot while riding in a motorcade in downtown Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination but was later killed by Jack Ruby.
1968, Robert F Kennedy (candidate) – Assassinated after winning the California primary election while campaigning for the Democratic nomination. His killer, Sirhan Sirhan, was sentenced to life in prison.
1972, George Wallace (candidate) – Shot multiple times during a campaign event in Maryland, leaving him paralyzed for life. The assailant, Arthur Bremer, was convicted and later released in 2007.
More Recent Attempts
1975, Gerald Ford (38th president) – Survived two assassination attempts within 17 days in California, orchestrated by Lynette Fromme and Sarah Jane Moore, who received life sentences.
1981, Ronald Reagan (40th president) – Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, DC, narrowly escaping death. Hinckley was deemed not guilty by reason of insanity and institutionalized.
1994, Bill Clinton (42nd president) – While at the White House, Clinton was targeted by Francisco Martin Duran, who fired shots at the building. Duran received a 40-year prison sentence for attempting to assassinate the president.
2005, George W. Bush (43rd president) – During a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, a man named Vladimir Arutyunian threw a hand grenade towards the stage where Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili were present. Fortunately, the grenade did not detonate, and Arutyunian was sentenced to life in prison.
These instances of assassination attempts on U.S. presidents and candidates underscore the dark and troubling history of such acts in American politics, leaving a lasting impact on the nation.
