Political Violence: Assassinations & Assassination Attempts

"The important thing to know about an assassination or an attempted assassination is not who fired the shot, but who paid for the bullet." ~ Eric Ambler

"At the first meeting of the newly constituted Warren Commission, [former CIA Director] Allen Dulles handed out copies of a book to help define the ideological parameters he proposed for the Commission's forthcoming work. American assassinations were different from European ones, he told the Commission. European assassinations were the work of conspiracies, whereas American assassins acted alone." ~ Peter Dale Scott

"Assassination is the extreme form of censorship; and it seems hard to justify an incitement to it on anti-censorial principles." ~ George Bernard Shaw

The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is a predictable outcome of the ongoing toxic and hostile rhetoric in media and social media portraying Trump as a threat to democracy.

Targeting public officials dedicated to advancing society through politics and governance is deplorable. The history of the United States is unfortunately riddled with numerous instances of political assassinations and attempts. While it is challenging to enumerate every incident due to their significant number, certain events stand out for their lasting impact.

These tragic events are rooted in various motivations, including personal grievances, mental instability, political ideologies, misinformation through social media and organized conspiracies. The profound consequences have led to significant changes in security protocols, public policy, and national discussions about violence and political stability.

Accurately quantifying these events has been challenging due to varying definitions and the inclusion of less prominent incidents. There have been multiple assassination attempts and several assassinations of political figures, particularly high-profile individuals, including presidents. Specifically, there have been four successful presidential assassinations and over twenty attempts. Other prominent figures, such as senators and civil rights leaders, have been targets of such acts.

Over time, our perception of political violence in American history has evolved significantly. What was once considered a tragic yet accepted reality is now condemned and deeply troubling. This history reinforces the need for relentless caution and strong security measures to protect political leaders and maintain stable democratic institutions. It reminds us of the potential for political violence and highlights the importance of protecting those dedicated to public service.

Here is a historical list of assassinations and attempted assassinations:

Presidential Assassinations (some had two attempts of assassination!)

1. Abraham Lincoln (1865) Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth
2. James A. Garfield (1881) Assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau
3. William McKinley (1901) Assassinated by Leon Czolgosz
4. John F. Kennedy (1963) Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald

Presidential Assassination Attempts

1. Andrew Jackson (1835) Attempted by Richard Lawrence
2. Theodore Roosevelt (1912) Attempted by John Schrank
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933) Attempted by Giuseppe Zangara
4. Harry S. Truman (1950) Attempted by Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo
5. John F. Kennedy (1960) Attempted by Richard Pavlick before he became president
6. Richard Nixon (1974) Attempted by Samuel Byck
7. Gerald Ford (1975) Attempted by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme
8. Gerald Ford (1975) Attempted by Sara Jane Moore
9. Jimmy Carter (1979) Attempted by Raymond Lee Harvey and Osvaldo Ortiz
10. Ronald Reagan (1981) Attempted by John Hinckley Jr
11. George H. W. Bush (1993) Attempted by Iraqi agents during his post-presidency
12. Bill Clinton (1994) Attempted by Francisco Martin Duran
13. Bill Clinton (1996) Attempted by an unclassified plot involving a plane
14. George W. Bush (2001) Attempted by Vladimir Arutyunian
15. George W. Bush (2005) Attempted by al-Qaeda affiliates
16. Donald Trump (2024) Attempted by Thomas Matthew Crooks

Other Political Figures

1. Huey Long (1935) Assassinated by Carl Weiss
2. Robert F. Kennedy (1968) Assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan
3. Martin Luther King Jr. (1968) Assassinated by James Earl Ray