Few moments jolt a nation like an assassination attempt. Some succeeded, altering the course of history.
Others failed but left behind unforgettable headlines, reshaping how America viewed its leaders and their security.
From Ford’s Theatre to Dallas, and from Roosevelt’s narrow escape to Reagan’s near-death, these are the assassination attempts every American remembers — the moments when a single gunshot (or the threat of one) shook the country.
Abraham Lincoln (1865)
John Wilkes Booth’s attack at Ford’s Theatre remains the most infamous assassination in American history, ending Lincoln’s life just days after the Civil War effectively concluded.
James Garfield (1881)
Shot in a Washington train station by Charles Guiteau, Garfield lingered for months before dying. The drawn-out ordeal dominated headlines and exposed the limits of 19th-century medicine.
William McKinley (1901)
Anarchist Leon Czolgosz killed McKinley at the Pan-American Exposition. His death brought Theodore Roosevelt into the presidency, reshaping America’s role on the global stage.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 attempt)
Shots fired in Miami narrowly missed FDR but killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. The close call made Roosevelt seem almost untouchable as he entered the presidency.
Harry Truman (1950 attempt)
Puerto Rican nationalists stormed Blair House, leading to a deadly shootout with Secret Service agents right outside Truman’s temporary residence.
John F. Kennedy (1963)
The Dallas assassination is the most iconic political killing in U.S. history. The Zapruder film and conspiracy theories keep it alive in American memory.
Robert F. Kennedy (1968)
Just after a California primary win, RFK was shot in Los Angeles. His assassination ended the hope of a Kennedy political restoration.
George Wallace (1972 attempt)
The segregationist governor and presidential candidate was paralyzed after being shot during a campaign stop, altering the 1972 race.
Gerald Ford (1975 attempts)
In California, Ford survived two assassination attempts within weeks — one by Manson family follower Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, another by Sara Jane Moore.
Ronald Reagan (1981)
Shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Washington Hilton, Reagan barely survived. The incident led to sweeping changes in presidential security.
Impact
Assassination attempts have left scars on the American psyche, whether successful or not. Each one forced changes — in security, in politics, and in how the nation viewed its leaders. From Lincoln’s deathbed to Reagan’s hospital recovery, these moments are stark reminders that power invites danger, and that the resilience of both leaders and institutions has often been tested under fire.
