Overview
Throughout American history, numerous assassination attempts have been made on sitting presidents, former presidents, and presidential candidates. While some were thwarted, others resulted in injury or long-term political consequences. This section documents these attempts, providing critical context and details.
Common Themes
Mental Illness
Several assailants were later found to be suffering from psychological disorders, including Lawrence, Hinckley, and Schrank.
Political Extremism
Ideologically motivated attacks—from Puerto Rican nationalists to white supremacists—recur throughout history.
Candidate Vulnerability
Campaign trail security is consistently weaker than presidential protection, making candidates especially vulnerable.
Impact and Legacy
Though not all attempts were successful, each has played a role in shaping presidential security, public perceptions of political violence, and the evolution of Secret Service protocols. The threat of assassination remains a persistent concern for those who seek or hold the highest office in the United States.
Chronological Table of Assassination Attempts
| Target | Date | Assailant(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson (President) | Jan 30, 1835 | Richard Lawrence | Misfired pistols; Jackson unharmed |
| Abraham Lincoln (Pres.-elect) | Feb 1861 | Unknown (Baltimore Plot) | Foiled; Lincoln rerouted |
| Theodore Roosevelt (Candidate) | Oct 14, 1912 | John Schrank | Shot; survived and finished speech |
| FDR (Pres.-elect) | Feb 15, 1933 | Giuseppe Zangara | FDR unharmed; Chicago mayor killed |
| Harry Truman (President) | Nov 1, 1950 | Torresola & Collazo | Gun battle; guard killed; Truman unharmed |
| John F. Kennedy (President) | Dec 11, 1960 | Richard Paul Pavlick (plot) | Car bomb plot foiled before execution |
| George Wallace (Candidate) | May 15, 1972 | Arthur Bremer | Shot; paralyzed but survived |
| Richard Nixon (President) | Feb 22, 1974 | Samuel Byck | Attempted hijacking; killed during standoff |
| Gerald Ford (President) | Sept 5, 1975 | Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme | Gun jammed; Ford unharmed |
| Gerald Ford (President) | Sept 22, 1975 | Sara Jane Moore | Fired and missed; bystander intervened |
| Jimmy Carter (President) | May 5, 1979 | Raymond Lee Harvey (alleged) | Claimed plot; never carried out |
| Ronald Reagan (President) | Mar 30, 1981 | John Hinckley Jr. | Shot and wounded; recovered |
| George H. W. Bush (Fmr. Pres.) | Apr 1993 | Iraqi intelligence agents | Car bomb plot foiled in Kuwait |
| Barack Obama (Candidate) | 2008 | Schlesselman & Cowart | White supremacist plot foiled |
| Donald Trump (Candidate) | Jun 18, 2016 | Michael Sandford | Tried to grab officer’s gun; arrested |
| Donald Trump (President) | Nov 2017 | Juan M. Lopez (plot) | Foiled before execution |
| Joe Biden (Candidate) | May 2020 | Alexander Treisman | Arrested with weapons and assassination plan |
| Donald Trump (Candidate) | Jul 13, 2024 | Thomas Matthew Crooks | Shot in ear at rally; survived; shooter killed |
| Donald Trump (Candidate) | Sept 15, 2024 | Ryan Wesley Routh | Armed; arrested near Trump’s NJ golf club |