Assassination Attempt Thwarted

 

In light of the recent incident on Saturday where a former President was targeted, it is important to note that political violence against U.S. presidents and candidates is not a new phenomenon. Throughout the nation's history, there have been several cases of assassinations and attempted assassinations targeting prominent political figures. From the founding of the country in 1776, these incidents have underscored the risks and dangers associated with public service at the highest levels. It is a sobering reminder of the challenges and threats faced by those in positions of power and influence.

When we look at the pattern of these shootings, we find that 8 victims were Republicans and 5 Democrats. Surprisingly enough the 5 Democrats were all considered targets by their Democrat challengers because they didn’t like the idea that they could win the election. It’s time that we as Americans stand up against this type of treasonous behavior and condemn it for what it is – rude and downright hateful behavior. If you don’t like someone’s politics, don’t vote for them and whatever you do don’t get violent because violence never solves anything.

For those who publicly stated that the shooter missed, and you wished they had better aim, you are the problem within this country. It’s time you shut up and as you wished so many conservatives were canceled, it should be you who should be canceled cultured for your hateful behavior and thoughts against another human being, Remember Karma is real!

Abraham Lincoln, (R)  the 16th president of the United States, tragically became the first president to be assassinated when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865. Attending a play with his wife at Ford's Theatre in Washington, Lincoln was shot in the back of the head and died the following morning. His support for Black rights was believed to be a motive for his killing. Two years prior, during the Civil War, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Vice President Andrew Johnson succeeded him as president. The assassin, Booth, was later found and shot dead on April 26, 1865, after being discovered hiding in a barn in Virginia.

JAMES GARFIELD, (R )the 20th president

Garfield tragically became the second president to be assassinated just six months into his presidency. On July 2, 1881, as he was walking through a train station in Washington to catch a train to New England, he was shot by Charles Guiteau.

Despite efforts by Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, to locate the bullet using a specially designed device, Garfield's wound proved fatal. After lingering at the White House for several weeks, he passed away in September while at the New Jersey shore. His presidency had lasted only six months before his untimely death.

Vice President Chester Arthur assumed the presidency following Garfield's passing, while Guiteau was later convicted and executed in June 1882.

William McKinley, (R ) the 25th president of the United States, tragically met his end in a shocking assassination. While greeting well-wishers in Buffalo, New York, McKinley was shot twice at close range by a man named Leon F. Czolgosz. Despite initial hopes for recovery, McKinley ultimately succumbed to complications from his wounds, leaving the nation in mourning. The vice president at the time, Theodore Roosevelt, stepped in to assume the presidency following McKinley's untimely death. Czolgosz was swiftly brought to justice, found guilty of the crime, and met his own fate in the electric chair. The events surrounding McKinley's assassination serve as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those in positions of leadership.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, (D) the 32nd president of the United States, was the target of an assassination attempt in February 1933. The incident occurred in Miami, where Roosevelt had just delivered a speech from the back of an open car. Gunshots rang out, resulting in the tragic death of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. Despite the chaos, Roosevelt emerged unscathed from the shooting. The assailant, Guiseppe Zangara, was quickly apprehended and later convicted for the assassination attempt. Zangara was sentenced to death for his crime. This event highlighted the dangers faced by political figures and led to increased security measures for future presidents. The assassination attempt did not deter Roosevelt, who went on to serve four terms as president and lead the country through the Great Depression and World War II.

Harry S. Truman (D)  served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953. He was known for his decisive leadership during World War II and for implementing the Marshall Plan to aid in the post-war recovery of Europe. Truman also made the controversial decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, effectively ending the war with Japan.

In November 1950, Truman narrowly escaped an assassination attempt while staying at Blair House, the official guest residence for the President. Two gunmen attempted to break in, resulting in a shootout with White House policemen. Truman was unharmed, but one officer and one assailant were killed, with two other officers wounded.

One of the assailants, Oscar Callazo, was arrested and initially sentenced to death. However, Truman later commuted his sentence to life in prison, and Callazo was eventually released in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

JOHN F. KENNEDY, (D) the 35th president of the United States, was tragically assassinated in Dallas in November 1963. The assassination took place as Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, were riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. Kennedy was shot by a hidden assassin armed with a high-powered rifle and was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he passed away shortly after. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office on Air Force One, becoming the new president. Lee Harvey Oswald, who was arrested for the assassination, was shot and killed by Jack Ruby while being transferred to the county jail. The events surrounding Kennedy's assassination have been the subject of numerous investigations and conspiracy theories over the years. Kennedy's legacy as a charismatic and influential leader continues to endure in American history.

Gerald Ford, (R)  the 38th president of the United States, faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975. Despite being targeted by individuals seeking to harm him, Ford miraculously emerged unscathed from both incidents. The first attempt occurred in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pointed a gun at Ford, but it did not fire. Fromme was subsequently sentenced to prison and released in 2009. Just 17 days later, another woman named Sara Jane Moore fired a shot at Ford in San Francisco but missed. A bystander intervened before she could make a second attempt. Moore was also imprisoned and released in 2007. These harrowing experiences underscore the dangers faced by public figures and the resilience displayed by Ford in the face of such threats.

Ronald Reagan, (R) the 40th president of the United States, was a beloved figure known for his conservative policies and charismatic leadership style. The shooting incident in March 1981, where he was targeted by John Hinckley Jr., shocked the nation and led to increased security measures for public officials. Despite being injured in the assassination attempt, Reagan displayed remarkable resilience and recovered fully from his wounds.

The shooting also had lasting consequences for others involved, such as his press secretary James Brady, who was left with permanent disabilities. Hinckley's trial and subsequent confinement to a mental hospital raised questions about the intersection of mental health and criminal justice in the United States.

Hinckley's recent release from court oversight in 2022 highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with mental health issues who commit violent acts.

GEORGE W. BUSH, (R) the 43rd president of the United States, was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him. Despite both men being behind a bulletproof barrier, the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed about 100 feet away. Fortunately, the grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt in the incident. The perpetrator, Vladimir Arutyunian, was later apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for the attempted attack on President Bush. This event highlighted the ongoing security threats faced by world leaders and the importance of robust security measures in place during public appearances. It also showcased the resilience and professionalism of the security personnel who were able to prevent a potentially catastrophic situation.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, presidential candidate (R)

Theodore Roosevelt, a prominent and charismatic political figure, was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning for his return to the White House. Having previously served two terms as president, Roosevelt was running as a third-party candidate under the Progressive Party. Despite the assassination attempt, Roosevelt miraculously survived the attack thanks to folded papers and a metal glasses case in his pocket that blunted the impact of the bullet, preventing serious injury. The assailant, John Schrank, was apprehended and subsequently committed to mental hospitals for the remainder of his life. This incident highlighted the dangers and risks associated with political campaigns and brought attention to the need for increased security measures for presidential candidates.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, presidential candidate  D

Robert F. Kennedy, commonly known as RFK, was a prominent political figure seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968. He served as a U.S. senator from New York and was the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was tragically assassinated in 1963. RFK's campaign gained momentum when he won the California primary, but his victory was short-lived as he was shot and killed moments after delivering his speech at a Los Angeles hotel.

The assassination of RFK also resulted in injuries to five other individuals. The perpetrator, Sirhan Sirhan, was convicted of first-degree murder and initially sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later commuted to life in prison. Sirhan remains incarcerated, with his most recent petition for release being denied in the previous year.

George C. Wallace, a four-time governor of Alabama and a presidential candidate, (D) was a controversial figure in American politics. Known for his staunch segregationist views, Wallace famously stood in the schoolhouse door to block the integration of the University of Alabama in 1963. However, he later renounced his segregationist beliefs and sought to appeal to a broader base of voters during his presidential campaigns in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1972, while seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, Wallace was shot and paralyzed from the waist down during a campaign stop in Maryland. The shooter, Arthur Bremer, was convicted and sentenced to prison. Wallace remained in politics despite his physical limitations, serving as governor of Alabama until 1979.

Bremer was released from prison in 2007 after serving his sentence for the attempted assassination of Wallace.

Donald J, Trump (R ) Former Republican President seeking reelection at a rally in Butler PA was charged with excitement, gearing up for the Republican National Convention. However, the event took a dark turn as chaos erupted when shots rang out, causing panic and fear among the crowd. Trump himself was seen clutching his ear and dropping to the ground while Secret Service agents sprang into action. Journalists witnessed the harrowing scene unfold, describing the pandemonium that followed the shooting. The incident left one person dead and two critically injured, prompting Trump to express his condolences and gratitude to the Secret Service. President Joe Biden swiftly condemned the violence, emphasizing that such acts have no place in the United States. The attempted assassination has sparked a debate on security measures and accountability, with Trump's allies calling for a thorough investigation into the breakdown that allowed the shooter to target the former president.

When we look at the pattern of these shootings, we find that 8 victims were Republicans and 5 Democrats. Surprisingly enough the 5 Democrats all were considered targets by their Democrat challengers because they didn’t like the idea that they could win the election. It’s time that we as Americans stand up against this type of treasonous behavior and condemn it for what it is – rude and downright hateful behavior. If you don’t like someone’s politics, don’t vote for them and whatever you do don’t get violent because violence never solves anything.

For those who publicly stated that the shooter missed, and you wished they had better aim, you are the problem within this country. It’s time you shut up and as you wished so many conservatives were canceled, it should be you who should be canceled cultured for your hateful behavior and thoughts against another human being, Karma is real.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Pheonix University in Business Management, then a degree in Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology, her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. In her spare time, Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, Gouache, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 6 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, and opinion or history pieces each week.