Throughout the history of the United States, political violence has targeted U.S. presidents, former presidents, and major party presidential candidates. These incidents, spanning from the nation’s founding in 1776 to the present day, have left a lasting impact on the country’s political landscape. Here is a comprehensive look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred:
1. Abraham Lincoln: On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a theater performance in Washington, D.C. Lincoln’s support for Black rights was cited as a motive behind the killing.
2. James A. Garfield: Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, and succumbed to his injuries several weeks later.
3. William McKinley: President McKinley was shot by Leon F. Czolgosz on September 6, 1901, and died from his wounds eight days later.
4. Theodore Roosevelt: While president-elect, Roosevelt narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in February 1933 when Anton Cermak was shot and killed in a shooting targeting Roosevelt.
5. Harry S. Truman: In November 1950, two gunmen broke into Blair House, where Truman was staying, resulting in the death of a White House policeman and one of the assailants.
6. John F. Kennedy: President Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. Kennedy’s death shocked the nation and led to significant changes in U.S. politics.
7. Gerald Ford: Ford faced two assassination attempts in 1975, both of which he survived. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Sara Jane Moore were responsible for these attempts.
8. Ronald Reagan: President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. in March 1981 but made a full recovery. The incident also resulted in the injury of his press secretary, James Brady.
9. George H.W. Bush: While attending a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2005, a hand grenade was thrown toward President Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Fortunately, the grenade did not explode.
10. Theodore Roosevelt (again): In 1912, while campaigning for a third term as president, Roosevelt was shot in Milwaukee. However, the bullet was slowed by folded papers and a metal glasses case in his pocket, preventing serious injury.
11. Robert F. Kennedy: Seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968 in Los Angeles, moments after delivering a victory speech for winning the California primary.
12. George Wallace: Wallace, the governor of Alabama and a presidential candidate, was shot and paralyzed during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972.
