10 Forgotten US President Assassination Attempts

When we think of presidential assassinations, names like Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy often dominate the conversation. History too frequently focuses on these tragic events, overshadowing the numerous attempts made on the lives of U.S. presidents that went unnoticed or forgotten over the years. These foiled plots reveal a darker side to American politics and the persistent threats faced by those in power. Here, we delve into ten lesser-known attempted assassinations of U.S. presidents that remind us how dangerous political leadership can be.

1. George Washington (1783)

Before the presidency was officially established, George Washington faced an assassination attempt in 1783, orchestrated by a disgruntled officer named John André. André and his co-conspirators plotted to capture Washington on his way to Newburg but were thwarted before they could implement their plan. The would-be assassins were never caught, but Washington’s reputation and military achievements remained intact, solidifying his place as a foundational figure in American history.

2. Andrew Jackson (1835)

In a peculiar twist, Andrew Jackson came close to being assassinated by a man named Richard Lawrence in 1835. Lawrence approached Jackson at a memorial service for a fellow congressman and pulled out pistols—both of which misfired. Jackson, unharmed and infuriated, retaliated by attacking Lawrence with his cane. This foiled attempt marked the first assassination attempt on a sitting president.

3. Theodore Roosevelt (1912)

While Theodore Roosevelt was not president at the time of his near-assassination in 1912, he was running for a third term as a candidate for the Progressive Party. Shortly before delivering a speech in Milwaukee, a gunman named John Schrank shot Roosevelt in the chest. The bullet lodged in his speech notes, and Roosevelt famously continued to deliver his speech for over an hour before seeking medical attention, showing his robust character and fortitude.

4. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933)

Just weeks before his inauguration, Franklin D. Roosevelt narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Miami. Giuseppe Zangara fired several shots at FDR, but he missed the president, hitting and killing Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak instead. Roosevelt was unharmed but subsequently reassured the nation by stating during his inaugural address that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

5. Harry S. Truman (1950)

Harry S. Truman faced an assassination attempt from Puerto Rican nationalists in 1950. A group of men, including Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, attempted to storm the Blair House, where Truman was staying during renovations to the White House. While the men were ultimately unsuccessful, the shooting resulted in the death of a White House police officer. The attack underscored the volatility surrounding political sentiments during this era.

6. John F. Kennedy (1961)

While many are familiar with Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, fewer people know about the multiple attempts on his life in the early years of his presidency. Among them was a plot orchestrated by anti-Castro Cuban exiles known as Operation Mongoose, which included plans to poison, shoot, or otherwise harm Kennedy. This operation illustrates the dangerous intertwining of foreign policy and domestic threats during the Cold War era.

7. Gerald Ford (1975)

Gerald Ford endured two assassination attempts within a span of three weeks. The first was by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a member of the Manson Family cult, who pointed a gun at him in Sacramento. The gun failed to fire, and she was swiftly apprehended. Just weeks later, another assailant, John Hinckley, Jr., attempted to shoot Ford in San Francisco. Hinckley fired but missed. Both incidents demonstrate the volatile political climate of the mid-1970s.

8. Ronald Reagan (1981)

On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr., a troubled man obsessed with actress Jodie Foster. While Reagan survived, the assassination attempt left him with a gunshot wound to the chest and highlighted the vulnerability of presidents even in the most secure settings. This event underscored the continued need for improved security measures around political leaders.

9. Bill Clinton (1994)

While it is better known that Bill Clinton dealt with significant hostility from various groups, fewer remember the specific assassination plot involving John McVeigh (no relation to Timothy McVeigh). In 1994, McVeigh planned to bomb a government building to assassinate Clinton. The FBI arrested him before he could execute his plan, demonstrating the various threats that arise from political animosity during a time of societal change.

10. Barack Obama (2011)

In a plot that barely made headlines, a group of white supremacists in 2011 were arrested for planning to assassinate Barack Obama. Fit with weapons and a detailed plan, the men were caught during a raid on their compound. This incident highlights the ongoing struggles against domestic terrorism and the dark realities of racism in America’s political arena.