Some attacks have succeeded in killing presidents, while others were thwarted. The motives behind such acts vary, ranging from political grievances to mental illness.
Each attempt, whether successful or not, has prompted changes in how the nation protects its leaders and views political discourse.
Abraham Lincoln’s Tragic End
Abraham Lincoln met a sad fate while enjoying a night out at the theater. On April 14, 1865, he was watching a funny play with his wife Mary when John Wilkes Booth shot him in the head.
Lincoln was rushed to a nearby house for help, but he died the next morning.
Lincoln had made some big changes during his time as president. He freed slaves in rebel states during the Civil War. This made some people very angry.
After Lincoln died, Andrew Johnson took over as president.
The hunt for Booth began right away. He was found hiding in a barn in Virginia on April 26. Booth didn’t give up, so he was shot and killed.
Lincoln’s death shocked the country. He had led America through a hard war and made big steps toward ending slavery. His work to give Black people more rights was cut short by an assassin’s bullet.
James Garfield: A Short-Lived Presidency
James Garfield’s time as the 20th U.S. president was cut tragically short. He was shot on July 2, 1881, just months after taking office. The attack happened at a train station in Washington, D.C. as Garfield was heading out on a trip.
Charles Guiteau fired the shots that would eventually claim Garfield’s life. Despite efforts to save him, including an attempt by Alexander Graham Bell to locate the bullet with a special device, Garfield died in September.
Chester Arthur stepped in as the new president after Garfield’s death.
Guiteau was put on trial for the murder. He was found guilty and executed the following year.
Garfield’s assassination marked the second time a U.S. president had been killed while in office. His brief term lasted only about six months before it was cut short by violence.
William McKinley: A President’s Tragic End
President McKinley’s life took a dark turn on September 6, 1901. He was in Buffalo, New York, greeting people after a speech. As he shook hands, a man shot him twice in the chest.
At first, doctors thought he would live. But his wounds got infected, and he died on September 14.
The shooter was Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old man from Detroit with no job. He admitted to the crime right away.
After a trial, he was found guilty and executed in the electric chair on October 29, 1901.
McKinley had just started his second term as president when he was killed. His vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, took over as the new leader of the country.
Roosevelt Survives Miami Attack
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt faced danger before taking office. After a speech in Miami, shots rang out near his car. The president-to-be escaped harm, but Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak was killed.
The shooter, Guiseppe Zangara, was caught and put to death for the crime. This event showed the risks leaders face, even before starting their jobs.
Harry Truman’s Close Call at Blair House
Harry Truman faced a scary moment while staying at Blair House in 1950. Two men with guns tried to break in.
Luckily, Truman wasn’t hurt. But the attack turned deadly. A White House cop and one of the bad guys died in a shootout. Two other cops got hurt too.
The police caught one of the attackers, Oscar Callazo. He was going to be put to death. But Truman changed his mind and gave him life in prison instead.
Years later, in 1979, President Carter let Callazo out of jail.
John F. Kennedy’s Tragic End
John F. Kennedy’s life was cut short on a fateful day in Dallas. As his car drove through the city in November 1963, shots rang out. The president was hit and quickly taken to a hospital. Sadly, he did not survive.
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took over as president. He was sworn in on the presidential plane – a first in U.S. history.
Police soon caught Lee Harvey Oswald. They found his hiding spot in a nearby building. But the case took another twist when Oswald was killed two days later. A man named Jack Ruby shot him as police were moving Oswald.
The events shocked the nation and left many questions unanswered. Kennedy’s death marked a dark moment in American history and changed the course of the 1960s.
Gerald Ford: Two Close Calls
In 1975, President Gerald Ford faced danger twice in just over two weeks. Both times, he walked away unhurt.
On September 5, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, tried to shoot Ford in Sacramento. She pushed through a crowd and pointed a gun at him, but it didn’t go off. Fromme went to jail for 34 years.
Just 17 days later, Sara Jane Moore took a shot at Ford in San Francisco. She missed, and someone nearby grabbed her arm before she could try again. Moore spent 32 years behind bars.
These incidents showed how risky a president’s job can be. Even with guards all around, danger can pop up in seconds. Ford kept doing his work, but these close calls left a mark on his time as leader.
Reagan’s Brush with Death
On a spring day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan faced a scary moment. He was walking to his car after giving a speech when shots rang out.
John Hinckley Jr., a man in the crowd, fired a gun at the president. Reagan was hit, but he survived.
Three other people got hurt too. James Brady, Reagan’s press secretary, was badly injured. He couldn’t walk normally after that.
The police caught Hinckley right away. A court said he was mentally ill and sent him to a hospital instead of jail.
Many years later, in 2022, a judge let Hinckley go free. They thought he wasn’t dangerous anymore.
George W. Bush’s Close Call
In 2005, President Bush faced a scary moment at a rally in Tbilisi. Someone tossed a hand grenade his way while he stood with Georgia’s leader.
Luckily, they were behind a special shield. The grenade landed far away and didn’t go off. Everyone was safe.
Later, cops caught the guy who did it. He got a really long jail sentence.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Campaign Trail Drama
In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt faced more than just political opponents. While stumping for votes in Milwaukee, the ex-president got shot! He was trying to win back the White House as a third-party candidate when John Schrank took aim.
Lucky for Teddy, his pocket stuff saved the day. His glasses case and some papers slowed down the bullet. He walked away without major injuries.
Schrank ended up in mental hospitals for the rest of his life. Talk about a wild campaign stop!
Bobby Kennedy’s Presidential Run Cut Short
Bobby Kennedy’s campaign for the White House ended in tragedy. He was running for the Democratic nomination in 1968. After winning the California primary, he gave a victory speech at an LA hotel. But moments later, gunshots rang out.
Kennedy was hit. Five others got hurt too. The shooter, Sirhan Sirhan, was caught and convicted of murder. He got life in prison instead of the death penalty.
This wasn’t the first time the Kennedy family faced violence. Bobby’s brother, President John F. Kennedy, had been killed just 5 years earlier.
George Wallace’s Campaign Trail Tragedy
George Wallace ran for president in 1972. He was shot at a campaign event in Maryland.
The attack left him unable to walk.
Wallace was Alabama’s governor. He used to support keeping races apart. Later, he changed his mind about this.
The shooter, Arthur Bremer, went to jail for the crime. He got out in 2007 after serving his time.
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