It’s a chilling thought, isn’t it? The idea that someone might try to end the life of the President of the United States while they’re in office. Thankfully, history shows us that many such attempts have failed. This isn’t a comprehensive list of every single threat or close call, but rather a look at some of the most significant assassination attempts US Presidents have survived, and what we can learn from them.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh US President, holds the rather unfortunate distinction of being the first president to face an assassination attempt. It was a tense day in 1835, and Jackson was attending a funeral for a member of Congress.
A Tense Moment at a Funeral
The year was 1835, specifically January 30th. President Andrew Jackson, a man known for his fiery temper and wartime exploits, was present at the funeral of Congressman Davy Crockett’s son in the Capitol Rotunda. While Jackson was preparing to deliver his eulogy, a man named Richard Lawrence, a house painter from England who claimed to be heir to the British throne, approached him.
The Pistols That Failed
Lawrence approached Jackson, pulled out a pistol, and fired. Miraculously, the pistol misfired. Witnesses would later describe the sound as a mere “pop.” Undeterred, Lawrence then produced a second pistol and fired again. This one also misfired. It’s almost unbelievable to think that both weapons failed to discharge their ammunition. Some accounts suggest that Jackson, despite his age, was ready to defend himself if needed, but the malfunctioning firearms spared him.
The Aftermath and Public Reaction
Following the failed attempt, Lawrence was subdued by bystanders, including Representative Davy Crockett himself, who famously disarmed the assailant. Lawrence was apprehended and later deemed to be mentally unfit, claiming that he was acting on orders from the late President Jackson himself, believing Jackson owed him money. The incident sent shockwaves through Washington. While some dismissed it as the act of a madman, it highlighted the vulnerability of the President and the growing unease surrounding political tensions of the era. The fact that both pistols failed was seen by many at the time as divine intervention, a testament to Jackson’s perceived destiny. It also brought to the fore the need for greater presidential security, though the formalisation of such measures would take many more years.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: The Chicago Incident
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only US President to serve more than two terms, faced an
