In the wake of the recent events surrounding former President Donald Trump, it is important to reflect on the history of political violence targeting U.S. presidents and major party presidential candidates. Throughout the nation’s history, there have been several instances of assassinations and attempted assassinations that have left a lasting impact on the country.
One of the most significant incidents occurred on April 14, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln’s support for Black rights was believed to be a motive behind his killing. He was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson.
Another tragic event unfolded on July 2, 1881, when President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau at a train station in Washington, D.C. Despite efforts to save him, Garfield succumbed to his injuries several weeks later. Vice President Chester Arthur assumed the presidency following Garfield’s death.
President William McKinley became a victim of political violence on September 6, 1901, when he was shot by Leon F. Czolgosz during a speech in Buffalo, New York. McKinley’s wounds initially seemed non-fatal, but complications arose, leading to his death on September 14, 1901. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt took over as president.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, remains etched in the nation’s memory. Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office shortly after Kennedy’s death.
President Gerald Ford faced two assassination attempts in 1975. The first occurred in Sacramento, California, when Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme aimed a pistol at Ford but did not fire. The second attempt took place in San Francisco, where Sara Jane Moore fired a shot that missed. Both assailants were apprehended and later released from prison.
President Ronald Reagan narrowly survived an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981, in Washington, D.C. John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan and several others, including press secretary James Brady, who was left partially paralyzed. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was recently released from court oversight.
In 2005, President George W. Bush narrowly escaped harm when a hand grenade was thrown at him during a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia. The grenade did not explode, and the perpetrator, Vladimir Arutyunian, was sentenced to life in prison.
Other notable incidents include the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign in 1968 and the shooting of Governor George Wallace during his 1972 presidential campaign.
1 Response
I found your post on the history of political violence targeting the U.S. to be quite thought-provoking. Could you please expand on the specific incidents or examples from history that you believe are relevant to the current situation? It would be interesting to delve deeper into the historical context and understand how it relates to the recent events surrounding former President Donald Trump.