On the morning of September 5, 1975, just over a year into his presidency, Gerald R. Ford was nearly assassinated in Sacramento, California. As the president walked through a crowd in Capitol Park, a young woman raised a pistol from within shouting distance and aimed it directly at him. The gun did not fire. Within seconds, Secret Service agents wrestled her to the ground and took her into custody. The assailant was not only a radical activist but also a follower of the infamous cult leader Charles Manson.
Political and Social Context
Gerald Ford had taken office in the wake of the Watergate scandal, inheriting a nation grappling with deep disillusionment and political fatigue. He was never elected to the vice presidency or presidency, ascending through appointment after the resignation of Spiro Agnew and then Richard Nixon. The economy was in recession, inflation was high, and the Vietnam War had only recently ended in ignominy.
The public mood in 1975 was volatile. The country was sharply divided on issues ranging from civil rights to the Cold War. A series of radical movements—leftist and right-wing—flourished in the political vacuum of the 1970s. Among them was the lingering and dangerous influence of the Manson Family, whose leader, Charles Manson, had orchestrated a series of murders in 1969 but retained a devoted group of adherents behind bars and beyond.
The Plot
The would-be assassin, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, was a 26-year-old disciple of Charles Manson. Though not implicated in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders, Fromme had remained fiercely loyal to Manson during and after his trial. She saw herself as a messenger of his apocalyptic philosophy and had recently grown fixated on environmental and political causes, especially the federal government’s treatment of California’s redwood forests.
Fromme’s motivations were a blend of personal devotion to Manson, environmental fanaticism, and political delusion. She believed assassinating the president might draw attention to these causes—or at least demonstrate loyalty to Manson’s vision. By 1975, she had moved to Sacramento and began tracking Ford’s public schedule.
Timeline
September 5, 1975, ~10:00 a.m.: President Ford arrives at Capitol Park in Sacramento to meet with Governor Jerry Brown and deliver a public statement.
Shortly after: Ford exits the Senator Hotel and walks through a crowd of supporters and onlookers gathered along the walkway.
As Ford approaches: Fromme steps forward in a bright red dress, raises a Colt .45 pistol, and points it at the president from just a few feet away.
Seconds later: The gun does not fire. Secret Service agents spring into action, subdue Fromme, and remove Ford from the area.
Ford remains unharmed: He continues on to his scheduled meeting and delivers his speech as planned.
The Assassination Attempt
Fromme’s weapon was loaded with four cartridges, but no round was in the firing chamber. She later claimed she had intended to fire, but failed to cock the weapon properly. Others speculated she may have hesitated in the moment. Either way, her attempt came shockingly close—closer than many later realized.
A Secret Service agent named Larry Buendorf acted swiftly, grabbing the gun and tackling Fromme before she could chamber another round. She was immediately arrested while shouting incoherently about Manson and the environment. The entire incident lasted less than 10 seconds.
Immediate Aftermath
Ford, displaying remarkable composure, continued with his schedule. He later acknowledged the incident but downplayed its significance, perhaps in an effort to project calm during a time of national unease.
The attempt stunned the country. It was the first time since the Roosevelt era that a woman had attempted to kill a U.S. president. Fromme’s connection to the Manson Family added a chilling dimension, rekindling public memories of the gruesome 1969 murders and the cult’s bizarre ideology.
The Secret Service, embarrassed by how close Fromme had come, quickly reviewed and revised their security procedures, particularly in uncontrolled public walk-throughs.
Investigation and Arrests
Fromme was immediately taken into federal custody. A search of her apartment and belongings revealed letters, drawings, and notes professing loyalty to Charles Manson, along with details of Ford’s public itinerary. She confessed her intentions almost immediately and made no effort to conceal her motives.
She was charged with attempted assassination of the President of the United States. Fromme showed no remorse and refused to cooperate during legal proceedings, often delivering rants in court that echoed Manson’s apocalyptic teachings.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
The trial took place in federal court in Sacramento. Fromme, appearing in a red robe with an “X” carved into her forehead (in imitation of Manson), disrupted proceedings multiple times. She refused to enter a plea and attempted to represent herself.
After a brief trial, she was found guilty of attempted assassination and sentenced to life in prison in November 1975. Despite the sentence, Fromme was eligible for parole under the laws of the time and was ultimately released in 2009 after serving 34 years.
Punishments and Legacy of the Conspirator
Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme served more time in federal prison than any other female attempted assassin in U.S. history. During her incarceration, she remained mostly unrepentant, continuing to express admiration for Charles Manson.
Her attempt did not elevate her to the infamy she may have sought. Instead, it became part of a disturbing pattern of political violence and instability in the 1970s. Fromme’s legacy remains that of a foot soldier in one of America’s most notorious cults—dangerous not for what she accomplished, but for how close she came.
Long-Term Impact on the Nation
The assassination attempt forced a reassessment of presidential security. The Secret Service reduced the number of unscreened public appearances and began implementing tighter perimeter controls. The proximity allowed to Fromme—who was within arm’s length of the president—was considered a severe breach of protocol.
Ford himself remained undeterred, though another attempt on his life would occur just 17 days later in San Francisco, reinforcing the need for heightened vigilance. Together, the two attempts highlighted the growing threat of lone-wolf actors driven by delusion, ideology, or notoriety.
Controversies and Conspiracy Theories
Although Fromme was a known Manson follower and acted alone, some speculated whether other members of the cult were involved or aware of the plan. No credible evidence supported these claims. The FBI and Secret Service concluded she had acted independently, though her actions were clearly inspired by her loyalty to Manson’s worldview.
Some analysts argued that the government underestimated the residual danger posed by the Manson Family’s scattered and radicalized members, many of whom continued to idolize their imprisoned leader.
Primary Source Appendix
- FBI arrest records and psychological evaluation of Lynette Fromme (1975)
- Secret Service reports and post-incident security reviews
- Trial transcripts from U.S. v. Fromme (1975)
- Press coverage from The Sacramento Bee, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Times (September–November 1975)
- Gerald Ford’s public remarks following the attempt
- Memoirs of Secret Service Agent Larry Buendorf
- Congressional hearings on presidential security (1976)