How many American presidents have been assassinated or had an attempt on them? - Page 3 - Historum

**Patito de Hule** · January 1st, 2010, 12:51 AM

Of 44 presidents, four have been assassinated or 9.1%. Six have had assassination attempts or 13.6%. That's a pretty dangerous job. Since 1792, that looks to me more dangerous than being a king or tsar. But what's happened to the assassins?

Abe Lincoln: John Wilkes Booth was shot and killed by Sergeant Boston Corbett as he hobbled out of a burning barn.

James Garfield: Charles Guiteau was hanged June 30, 1882

William McKinley: Leon Czolgosz was electrocuted Oct. 29, 1901

John F. Kennedy: Lee Harvey Oswald was murdered while in custody by Jack Ruby.

So all four assassins have been killed or executed in fairly short order. Doesn't say much about the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent. The attempts were as follows:

Andrew Jackson: Richard Lawrence adjudged insane and institutionalized

Teddy Roosevelt: John Schrank adjudged insane and institutionalized.

Frank Roosevelt: Giuseppe Zangara was sentenced to 80 years, but then was sentenced to electrocution for the murder of Cermak.

Harry Truman: Griselio Torresola died in the attempt. Oscar Collazo was sentenced to death, but commuted to life by Truman. Pardoned in 1979 by Jimmy Carter.

Gerald Ford: Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was sentenced to life. Paroled in 2008 and released in 2009.

Ronald Reagan: John Hinkley was adjudged insane and institutionalized.

A pretty pathetic bunch of people, I'd say.

**Pedro** · January 1st, 2010, 06:31 AM

One more to add to Gerald Ford: Sara Jane Moore who was sentenced to life and was paroled three years ago. She turns eighty this year.

sundance · January 1st, 2010, 06:41 AM

Just a quick question. Wouldn't it be safe to say that above 90% of our presidents have had assassination attempts on their lives? Most go unreported, the public never finds out about them and so on.

**Pedro** · January 1st, 2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundance

Just a quick question. Wouldn't it be safe to say that above 90% of our presidents have had assassination attempts on their lives? Most go unreported, the public never finds out about them and so on.

There have certainly been many threats that led to individuals being prosecuted and jailed. And it would seem logical that there are probably a lot of incidents that the press considered not sufficiently important to report. Remember the newsmans motto: If if bleeds it leads.

**Patito de Hule** · January 1st, 2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

One more to add to Gerald Ford: Sara Jane Moore who was sentenced to life and was paroled three years ago. She turns eighty this year.

I'd completely forgotten about her.

sundance · January 1st, 2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

There have certainly been many threats that led to individuals being prosecuted and jailed. And it would seem logical that there are probably a lot of incidents that the press considered not sufficiently important to report. Remember the newsmans motto: If if bleeds it leads.

LOL Very well put Pedro! Right you are!

**Pedro** · January 1st, 2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patito de Hule

I'd completely forgotten about her.

some people get all the luck.

**tjadams** · January 1st, 2010, 08:45 AM

Recently I read about a man who had made a threat to harm obama's wife. I'm sure he was arrested.

napoleonteh1st · January 1st, 2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

Apparently George Bush had an attempt. A guy attempted to throw a hand grenade at him but some sercret service guy got to him before and was able to keep the the grip on the grenade and put the pin back in. Didn't know this till I was watching a program on the Secret Service.

One might count the shoe incident