Political violence in the US has a long history. Before the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, there have been many cases of US presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates being targeted. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be shot dead. Political violence has claimed the lives of leaders around the world, including Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme.
After three attacks, the Secret Service takes over security
The Secret Service was given charge of security after the attacks on Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and William McKinley. The assassination of John F. Kennedy shocked the nation, and security around presidents was tightened. Despite this, Gerald Ford was attacked twice in an 18-day span, and Ronald Reagan was seriously injured in an attack early in his presidency in 1981.
Second attack on Trump
There was also an attempt to attack Trump in 2016. Then a 20-year-old British man tried to snatch a gun from a police officer during a rally in Las Vegas. He later told the police that he was trying to kill Trump.
When did attacks take place on the US President and presidential candidates
30 March 1981: John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at then-President Ronald Reagan in Washington, wounding Reagan and three others. The president was seriously injured but recovered. Hinckley was arrested and held in psychiatric care until 2016, 12 years after Reagan’s death.
5 September 1975: Charles Manson follower Lynette Squeaky attempted to shoot Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California. Three weeks later, Sara Jane Moore shot at Ford in San Francisco. He was unhurt in either attack.
5 June 1968: Sirhan shot and killed then presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. He was shot during the Democratic primary in Los Angeles. Sirhan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Kennedy’s son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is contesting the election as an independent candidate this time.
22 November 1963: Then-President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas. Since the assassination, there has been debate over whether Oswald acted alone, as Oswald was assassinated two days later by restaurateur Jack Ruby.
14 October 1912: Former President Theodore Roosevelt was campaigning to return to the White House. He was shot while giving a speech in Milwaukee. However, he later lost to Woodrow Wilson. The would-be assassin, John Schrank, was found to be legally insane and imprisoned until his death.
6 September 1901: President William McKinley was shot in Buffalo, New York, and later died of his wounds. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz was convicted of the murder and sentenced to death.
2 July 1881: Then-President James Garfield was shot in Washington. He died of his wounds two months later.
14 April 1865: Abraham Lincoln was shot dead by John Wilkes Booth in Washington. The accused was killed after a manhunt that lasted nearly two weeks.
