The President-elect of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was giving an impromptu speech at Bayfront Park in Miami, FL on Feb. 15. 1933, when Giuseppe Zangara drew a .32-caliber revolver and took aim at the soon-to-be president. Zangara’s first shot missed Roosevelt. Bystander Lillian Cross hit Zangara in the arm with her purse, causing him to aim wildly as he began to shoot again. Zangara fired five more shots and hit five people before he was subdued. Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was standing on the stage shaking the President-elect’s hand when a bullet pierced his lung. Cermak died of complications from his wounds and ulcerative colitis in Jackson Memorial Hospital on March 6.
Cermak was the only fatality in Zangara’s shooting. He admitted his guilt while in custody and pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder. Prior to Cermak’s death, Zangara was sentenced to 80 years in prison. However, after the mayor died, the assassin was charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty to that as well and was sentenced to death. Zangara was executed by electric chair on March 20, 1933.
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Roosevelt, once said, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” This quote can be used as an analogy to explain the concept of resilience and adaptability discussed in the post. Just like a sailor becomes skilled by navigating through rough waters and overcoming challenges, individuals also grow and develop through facing adversity and difficult situations. Just as a smooth sea may be pleasant, it does not provide the same opportunities for growth and learning as a turbulent sea. Similarly, in life, it is often the