The nation’s first presidential assassination occurred in the aftermath of the Civil War, when John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. Lincoln’s murder was part of a broader conspiracy intended to destabilize the federal government. Dive into the full case file to uncover the motivations, execution, and aftermath of one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
James A. Garfield (1881)
President James Garfield survived his initial shooting by Charles J. Guiteau, but would ultimately succumb to his wounds after months of suffering. This case explores how a disgruntled office-seeker’s delusions and the medical missteps of the time contributed to Garfield’s untimely death—and how it reshaped civil service in America.
William McKinley (1901)
Shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, McKinley’s assassination shocked a country confident in its progress. This case file examines the attack, the ideological currents behind it, and how McKinley’s death vaulted Theodore Roosevelt into national prominence.
John F. Kennedy (1963)
The assassination of JFK in Dallas remains one of the most scrutinized and controversial events in modern history. Explore the full case file to examine Lee Harvey Oswald’s role, the official findings of the Warren Commission, and the conspiracy theories that continue to fuel public fascination.