In the waning days of the presidential transition, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt was enjoying a brief vacation in Miami, Florida. The country was mired in the depths of the Great Depression, and Roosevelt had just defeated Herbert Hoover in a landslide. As he addressed a crowd from the back of an open car in Bayfront Park, a gunman emerged—firing multiple shots at close range. Roosevelt survived, but another prominent figure would not.
Political and Social Context
In early 1933, America was in free fall. The Great Depression had decimated jobs, banks, and confidence in the federal government. Millions were unemployed. Hunger marches and riots dotted the national landscape. Roosevelt, not yet inaugurated, was seen as a symbol of hope—or, by some, a threat to the established order.
The interregnum between Roosevelt’s election in November and his inauguration in March created a dangerous power vacuum. At the time, new presidents weren’t sworn in until March 4 (a practice later changed by the 20th Amendment). With Hoover increasingly unpopular and powerless, Roosevelt became the de facto leader of a nation desperate for change—making him a target for discontented and unstable individuals.
The Plot
The would-be assassin, Giuseppe Zangara, was an Italian immigrant and former bricklayer who had suffered from chronic stomach pain for years. Alienated, impoverished, and embittered, Zangara developed a general hatred for government and political elites, whom he blamed for his suffering.
Zangara had no known political affiliations or conspiratorial ties. His motivations were more anarchic and nihilistic than ideological. He claimed to despise all rulers and said he would have shot King Victor Emmanuel III if given the chance. When he learned that Roosevelt would be appearing publicly in Miami, he seized on the opportunity.
Timeline
- February 15, 1933, ~9:30 p.m.: Roosevelt speaks to a crowd of thousands from the back seat of a convertible at Bayfront Park, Miami.
- Seconds later: Zangara, standing on a wobbly folding chair just 25 feet away, opens fire with a .32 caliber pistol.
- Six shots are fired: Roosevelt is unharmed, but five others are struck—including Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.
- Within moments: The crowd subdues Zangara. Roosevelt orders his driver to rush the injured Cermak to the hospital.
The Assassination Attempt
Zangara’s shots narrowly missed Roosevelt, largely due to his poor vantage point. Standing on an unstable chair in a crowd, his aim wobbled. One bullet struck Mayor Anton Cermak in the abdomen. Others injured a local woman, a Secret Service agent, and two others.
Roosevelt, unfazed, immediately turned his attention to the wounded. He cradled Cermak and accompanied him to the hospital. According to one version of events, Cermak famously told Roosevelt, “I’m glad it was me and not you”—though historians debate the accuracy of that quote.
Immediate Aftermath
The country was stunned. Although Roosevelt escaped injury, the shooting reminded Americans of how fragile political order had become. Mayor Cermak lingered for three weeks before dying of peritonitis on March 6, 1933—two days after Roosevelt’s inauguration. Though some speculated Cermak may have been the intended target due to his opposition to organized crime in Chicago, Zangara confessed that Roosevelt had been his sole target.
Investigation and Arrests
Zangara was arrested on the spot and immediately confessed. His statements to police, journalists, and the court all conveyed his rage toward authority and power. He admitted that he acted alone and had purchased the pistol just four days earlier. No evidence emerged tying him to any broader group or conspiracy.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
The trial was swift. Zangara pled guilty and was first sentenced to 80 years in prison for the attempted murder of Roosevelt and others. After Cermak died, Zangara was recharged with murder. He again pled guilty and was sentenced to death.
In a rare move of judicial speed, Zangara was executed in Florida’s electric chair at Raiford Prison less than five weeks after the assassination attempt, on March 20, 1933.
Punishments and Legacy of the Conspirator
Zangara never expressed remorse. In his final statement before execution, he shouted, “Viva Italia! Goodbye to all poor peoples everywhere! Push the button!” He left behind a legacy not of political martyrdom, but of chaotic violence borne out of personal pain and resentment.
His case became a cautionary tale about how economic desperation and psychological distress can manifest in political violence—even from the most unpredictable corners.
Long-Term Impact on the Nation
Though Roosevelt was unharmed, the attempt had significant implications. The Secret Service increased its protective measures for incoming presidents, and public awareness of threats to political figures grew. The event also accelerated the national conversation around the presidential transition period. The 20th Amendment, which moved the inauguration date to January 20, was ratified shortly thereafter in 1933.
Mayor Cermak’s death was widely mourned, especially among immigrant communities in Chicago, where he had built a strong political coalition. Roosevelt’s calm and decisive response to the shooting enhanced his public image before even taking office.
Controversies and Conspiracy Theories
While Zangara’s confession was unequivocal, rumors swirled that the real target may have been Cermak, due to his anti-mob stance. Chicago was in the throes of gang warfare, and Cermak had clashed with Al Capone’s successors. However, no evidence ever substantiated the theory. Zangara’s own words and rapid prosecution largely closed the door to elaborate speculation.
Primary Source Appendix
- Giuseppe Zangara’s full confession to Miami police
- Contemporary reporting in The Miami News, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times (February–March 1933)
- Court transcripts from the murder and attempted assassination trial
- Roosevelt’s remarks following the attack
- Medical records and press statements regarding Anton Cermak’s injuries and death
- Public response coverage and editorials from newspapers across the U.S.