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From William McKinley to Donald Trump: The Inside Stories of 6 Presidential Assassination Attempts

Four incumbent U.S. presidents have lost their lives to shooters, while a few have narrowly beaten death when attempts were made on their lives.

BY SOMDATTA MAITY

PUBLISHED JUL 16, 2024

Cover Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Aaron Kittredge

Not All US Presidents Were Lucky

Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Pixabay

There is always a certain degree of threat over anyone who has ever been elected to the office of president of the United States of America. On July 13, former president, and current Republican candidate, Donald Trump, was reportedly shot at during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, United States Secret Service shared. In the ensuing violence, two individuals got injured and two lost their lives, including the alleged shooter. Several instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents, and major party presidential candidates have taken place over the years in the country. Four incumbent presidents have lost their lives to shooters, while a few have narrowly beaten death when attempts were made on their lives. Here's a look at six U.S. presidents who were attacked on American soil.

1. Abraham Lincoln

President Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated while in office. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, at Ford's theatre in Washington. Lincoln's support of Black Rights has been speculated as the reason behind the killing. Two years before the murder, Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which granted freedom to slaves within the Confederacy. Booth was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia, and was killed on April 26, 1865. Booth was shot by a Union soldier during his attempt to flee, HISTORY reported. He took his last breaths at a nearby farmhouse.

2. James A. Garfield

President James A. Garfield was shot in the waiting room of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station by Charles Guiteau, on July 2, 1881, HISTORY reported. Guiteau believed that by killing Garfield he "...will unite the Republican Party and save the Republic. Life is a fleeting dream, and it matters little when one goes,” according to the letter found in his pocket. Garfield had clashed with Republican power brokers on the issue of patronage appointments, at the beginning of his term. Guiteau was also disappointed because he believed he did not get his due for supporting Garfield during the 1880 presidential election. On September 19, 1881, Garfield succumbed to his injuries in a cottage on the Jersey shore. Guiteau was convicted by a court for Garfield's murder and executed by hanging in Washington, D.C. on June 30, 1982.

3. William McKinley

President William McKinley was shot in Buffalo, New York by Leon Czolgosz, on September 5, 1901. Czolgosz believed that McKinley was responsible for the USA's societal issues and therefore decided to assassinate him. He approached McKinley, after his speech with a pistol concealed under a handkerchief and fired two shots at the president's abdomen. The president while bleeding from his wounds, instructed his guards to not hurt his assailant, Miller Center reported. McKinley was taken to a hospital for treatment and was predicted to make a recovery. Gangrene set around his wounds which led to his death on September 14, 1901. Czolgosz was executed by electric chair on October 29, 1901.

4. John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Kennedy's vehicle was passing through the Texas School Book Depository when bullets struck the president's neck and head. The same day, Oswald was arrested as a suspect. Two days later, while the shooter was being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail, he was shot by a local nightclub owner, Jack Ruby. Oswald's reasons for committing the crime remain unclear, TIME reported. Ruby was sentenced to death for Oswald's murder. Texas Court of Appeals overturned his conviction but before his second trial, Ruby died of cancer. He claimed till his death that he acted out of patriotism.

5. Ronald Reagan

On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr., Reagan Library reported. Reagan was wounded by a bullet, which hit him under his left armpit. He was taken to the George Washington University Hospital for treatment and released after 12 days. Hinckley took the step as he wanted to impress Jodie Foster, CBS News reported. White House press secretary, James Brady, was gravely injured in the attack and was left paralyzed. Hinckley Jr. was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial and spent more than 30 years at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 2022, he was granted unconditional freedom.

6. Donald Trump

On July 13, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican, allegedly shot former US President, and Republican candidate, Donald Trump, while he was talking to his supporters in Pennsylvania, BBC reported. The bullet grazed Trump's right ear and has not caused any more injuries. The action undertaken by the 20-year-old kitchen worker has shocked his neighborhood. Crooks was reportedly wearing a T-shirt from Demolition Ranch, a YouTube channel known for its demolition and gun content. His motive remains unclear. Crooks was reportedly killed by the Secret Service a few moments after he fired the shots.