On May 15, 1972, during a campaign stop in Laurel, Maryland, Alabama Governor George Wallace was shot multiple times at close range while greeting supporters. Wallace, then running for the Democratic nomination for president, survived the attack but was left permanently paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting was a dramatic moment in the tumultuous 1972 election season and underscored the volatility of American political life in the wake of the 1960s.
Political and Social Context
By 1972, America was reeling from years of political upheaval—marked by the Vietnam War, civil rights struggles, political assassinations, and widespread distrust in government. Governor George Wallace, a deeply controversial figure, had positioned himself as a populist outsider and staunch segregationist who railed against federal overreach and liberal elites. His previous presidential bids had attracted millions of disaffected voters, particularly white Southerners and blue-collar workers.
Wallace’s 1972 campaign saw him softening his earlier segregationist stance and expanding his appeal to Northern industrial workers and “law and order” voters. Running as a Democrat, he was gaining momentum and polling strongly in key primaries. For both supporters and detractors, Wallace embodied the most combustible elements of the American political psyche—combining populism, racial tension, and cultural resentment in a single candidacy.
The Plot
The would-be assassin, Arthur Herman Bremer, was a 21-year-old drifter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bremer was not affiliated with any political party or extremist group. His motives were rooted more in personal pathology than ideology. Disaffected, socially isolated, and obsessed with gaining fame, Bremer initially planned to assassinate President Richard Nixon to make headlines. But heavy security thwarted that plan.
Turning his sights to Wallace, Bremer began stalking the candidate during his primary campaign appearances in the spring of 1972. He saw the highly visible and polarizing Wallace as a viable substitute target who could bring him the notoriety he craved.
Timeline
May 15, 1972, ~3:00 p.m.: Wallace arrives at the Laurel Shopping Center in Maryland for a campaign rally.
Shortly after: As Wallace works the rope line, shaking hands and speaking with supporters, Bremer emerges from the crowd holding a snub-nosed .38 caliber revolver.
Within seconds: Bremer fires five shots at point-blank range.
Wallace is hit: Four bullets strike Wallace in the chest and abdomen, one of which lodges in his spinal column. Three bystanders are also wounded.
Immediately: Secret Service agents and local police tackle Bremer and take him into custody. Wallace is rushed to the hospital.
The Assassination Attempt
Bremer waited patiently in the crowd as Wallace greeted voters and posed for photographs. When Wallace approached him, Bremer stepped forward and fired rapidly. The bullets struck Wallace in the abdomen and chest, and one caused irreparable damage to his spinal cord. Wallace collapsed to the pavement as bystanders screamed and agents rushed in.
The gunfire also wounded three others: a campaign volunteer, a Secret Service agent, and a local labor official. None of the other victims sustained life-threatening injuries. Wallace, however, was critically wounded and underwent emergency surgery at Holy Cross Hospital. Though his life was saved, he was left permanently paralyzed.
Immediate Aftermath
News of the shooting sent shockwaves through the country. Wallace had been a polarizing but increasingly influential figure in the 1972 race. His campaign, which had been gaining traction even outside the South, was abruptly derailed. President Nixon, Democratic rivals, and civil rights leaders all condemned the attack.
Wallace’s supporters rallied around him, and his popularity surged briefly in the wake of the shooting. He went on to win several additional primaries from his hospital bed, but the injuries made it impossible to continue campaigning in earnest. By the Democratic National Convention, he lacked sufficient delegates to secure the nomination.
Investigation and Arrests
Arthur Bremer was arrested at the scene and immediately taken into custody. A search of his car and apartment revealed a trove of disturbing materials, including a detailed diary titled An Assassin’s Diary, in which he chronicled his plans to kill a public figure. The diary made it clear that Bremer’s motivation was not political opposition to Wallace, but a desperate desire for fame.
Bremer’s writings showed that he had followed Wallace closely for weeks and had also scouted opportunities to assassinate President Nixon. Secret Service records and surveillance footage confirmed Bremer’s extensive stalking of his targets.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
Bremer was indicted on multiple counts of attempted murder and assault. He pled not guilty by reason of insanity, but after psychiatric evaluations, he was deemed competent to stand trial. The trial drew national media attention, particularly due to the eerie calm with which Bremer described his actions.
In August 1972, Bremer was convicted on all charges and sentenced to 63 years in prison. He ultimately served 35 years before being released on parole in 2007 under strict supervision.
Punishments and Legacy of the Conspirator
Arthur Bremer never expressed genuine remorse for the shooting. In his diary, he likened himself to an actor playing a role on a world stage, demonstrating a chilling detachment from the gravity of his actions. His case became emblematic of the growing threat posed by “celebrity assassins”—individuals driven more by the lure of attention than by ideology.
Bremer’s diary, later published in redacted form, was studied by psychologists, criminologists, and Secret Service analysts. His writings were even cited by later would-be assassins, including John Hinckley Jr., who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
Long-Term Impact on the Nation
The Wallace shooting had immediate and lasting consequences. It spurred reforms in campaign security, especially around presidential candidates, leading to tighter coordination between local police and the Secret Service. It also further eroded Americans’ sense of political safety, reinforcing the idea that any public figure could be a target.
Politically, Wallace’s injury marked the end of his national ambitions. Though he returned to Alabama politics and even made another presidential run in 1976, he was never again a serious contender for the White House. In later years, Wallace publicly renounced his segregationist views and sought reconciliation with the Black community, citing his suffering as a form of divine punishment.
Controversies and Conspiracy Theories
While Bremer acted alone, some speculated that others might have influenced or assisted him. The radical tone of Wallace’s campaign and his growing popularity in unexpected regions led to murmurs of a broader political motive. However, no credible evidence ever emerged to support conspiracy theories.
Bremer’s own writings and psychological evaluations strongly supported the lone-wolf theory. His desire for fame, rather than ideology, appeared to be the primary driver of his violent act.
Primary Source Appendix
- An Assassin’s Diary by Arthur H. Bremer (selections and excerpts)
- FBI and Secret Service reports (May–June 1972)
- Trial transcripts from State of Maryland v. Bremer (1972)
- Media coverage from The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Baltimore Sun (May–August 1972)
- Statements from the Wallace campaign and George Wallace’s personal correspondence
- Secret Service security protocols and post-incident revisions
- Retrospective interviews with bystanders, campaign aides, and law enforcement officials