A History of Political Violence: Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations of U.S. Presidents and Major Party Presidential Candidates
The United States has a long and complex history of political violence, with multiple instances of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents, and major party presidential candidates. This article provides a comprehensive look at some of the most notable cases, highlighting the motivations, circumstances, and outcomes of these events.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was the first to be assassinated. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while attending a performance of the play “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln’s support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing. Booth was a Confederate sympathizer who was bitter about the South’s defeat in the Civil War and saw Lincoln as a symbol of the Union.
Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia. Lincoln’s death was a national tragedy, and it led to a period of mourning and reflection across the country. His legacy as a champion of freedom and equality has endured, and he remains one of the most revered figures in American history.
James Garfield, the 20th President
James Garfield, the 20th President, was the second to be assassinated. He was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, while walking through a train station in Washington, D.C. Garfield died on September 19, 1881, six months after the shooting. Guiteau was a disgruntled office seeker who was angry about being passed over for a government job.
Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882. His trial and execution were highly publicized, and they led to a renewed focus on the need for better security measures to protect public officials. Garfield’s death was a shock to the nation, and it led to a period of soul-searching about the state of American politics and society.
William McKinley, the 25th President
William McKinley, the 25th President, was shot by Leon F. Czolgosz on September 6, 1901, while giving a speech in Buffalo, New York. McKinley died on September 14, 1901, six months after the shooting. Czolgosz was a 28-year-old anarchist who was angry about the government’s treatment of labor unions and the poor.
Czolgosz was found guilty and executed in the electric chair on October 29, 1901. His trial and execution were highly publicized, and they led to a renewed focus on the need for better security measures to protect public officials. McKinley’s death was a national tragedy, and it led to a period of mourning and reflection across the country.
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President
John F. Kennedy, the 35th President, was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963, while visiting Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after. Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later.
Oswald was a 24-year-old former Marine who was angry about the government’s treatment of Cuba and the Vietnam War. He was also a fan of Marxist ideology and saw Kennedy as a symbol of American imperialism.
Ruby was a 52-year-old nightclub owner who was angry about the way the police had handled the investigation into Oswald’s shooting. He saw Oswald as a scapegoat and wanted to take matters into his own hands.
Gerald Ford, the 38th President
Gerald Ford, the 38th President, faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975. In the first attempt, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a Charles Manson disciple, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at Ford but did not fire. In the second attempt, Sara Jane Moore fired one shot but missed.
Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009. Moore was also sentenced to prison and released in 2007. Both women were motivated by a desire to kill Ford and make a statement about the government’s treatment of the Manson family.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President, was shot by John Hinckley Jr. on March 30, 1981, while leaving a speech in Washington, D.C. Reagan recovered from the shooting, and Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Hinckley was a 25-year-old fan of actress Jodie Foster who was obsessed with her and wanted to impress her by killing the President. He was arrested and committed to a mental institution, where he remained for 35 years before being released in 2016.
George W. Bush, the 43rd President
George W. Bush, the 43rd President, was attending a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2005 when a hand grenade was thrown toward him. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt. The perpetrator, Vladimir Arutyunian, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Arutyunian was a 25-year-old Georgian who was angry about the government’s treatment of the country’s independence movement. He saw Bush as a symbol of American imperialism and wanted to make a statement about the country’s involvement in the region.
Robert F. Kennedy, presidential candidate
Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel on June 5, 1968, moments after giving his victory speech for winning the California primary. Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life in prison.
Sirhan was a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant who was angry about the government’s treatment of Arabs and saw Kennedy as a symbol of American imperialism. He was arrested and convicted of the crime, and he has been serving a life sentence in prison since 1969.
- George C. Wallace, presidential candidate
George C. Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972. Wallace was paralyzed from the waist down and later renounced his segregationist views.
Arthur Bremer was convicted of the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007 and has been living in Maryland since then.
Conclusion
The history of political violence in the United States is marked by multiple instances of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents, and major party presidential candidates. These events have had significant impacts on the country’s political landscape and have led to changes in security measures and protocols for protecting public officials.
From the assassination of Abraham Lincoln to the attempted assassination of George W. Bush, these events have been marked by a range of motivations, from political ideology to personal vendettas. They have also been marked by a range of outcomes, from death to imprisonment.
Despite these challenges, the United States has a long history of resilience and adaptability. The country has learned to respond to these events by strengthening its security measures and protocols, and by promoting greater understanding and tolerance between different groups and communities.
As the country looks to the future, it is important to remember the lessons of the past. By promoting greater understanding and tolerance, and by working to address the root causes of political violence, we can build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all Americans.