Every US President Who Was Assassinated
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Four presidents of the United States have been assassinated while in office. Their deaths were surprising and disconcerting to the nation and the world.
In each of the four instances, gunmen took the lives of the president, although not every victim of an assassin's bullet died immediately. Abraham Lincoln's death took hours after he was shot, but the gunshot injuries that killed James Garfield and William McKinley resulted in long and painful ends. The death of John F. Kennedy was not only shocking, but also received unprecedented media attention.
When an assassination attempt happens or is successful, it sets off a sequence of events. A hunt for the shooter or shooters begins, if necessary, or the assailants are taken into custody immediately and prepared to answer for their crimes.
No two deaths of a US president while in office have come about from the exact same circumstances or led to the same outcome. What happened when these individuals were shot and immediately after are essential parts of American history.
When He Died: April 15, 1865
How He Died: On a night at the theater with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Booth entered Lincoln's balcony at Ford's Theater on the night of April 14 and fired one shot into the back of Lincoln's head.
Lincoln was taken across the street to a boardinghouse where he languished until just after 7 am on the morning of the 15th.
What Happened After: When Lincoln died, he became the first US president to be assassinated while in office. Even as he lay dying, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton initiated an investigation into what happened. Vice president Andrew Johnson was sworn into office within four hours of Lincoln's death.
The nation was shocked by Lincoln's death. The loss of the president as the US Civil War had finally come to an end was devastating. Lincoln's body was prepared and taken to the Capitol to lie in state before being placed on a train to transport him to Springfield, IL. As the train progressed across the country, mourners came out in droves to catch a glimpse.
The pursuit of Lincoln's assassins was also underway. Hundreds of people were questioned and, ultimately, nine individuals were tried and sentenced to death or imprisonment in 1865 and 1867. Booth and another man, David Herold, were tracked to a barn in Virginia where Booth was killed by detectives. Herold surrendered and was among the individuals who stood trial for the killing.
As Lincoln's successor, Johnson undertook Reconstruction in the former Confederate States. A native Southerner, Johnson pardoned many former rebels and worked against securing rights for newly freed enslaved individuals.
When He Died: September 19, 1881
How He Died: James A. Garfield was president of the United States for less than a year. Sworn in on March 4, 1881, he died later that same year.
Garfield was the second president to be assassinated, although his death was fairly drawn out. While making his way to join his family in New Jersey in July, Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau.
Guiteau fired two bullets into Garfield's back. The president was taken to the White House, where he endured the pain from his wounds and the summer heat alike. Inventor Alexander Graham Bell tried to find the bullets using a device he designed specifically to do so, but was unsuccessful. Previously, doctors probed Garfield's torso to find them. Their efforts likely contributed to the infection that killed him.
Garfield was taken to the New Jersey seashore in early September and passed away on September 19.
What Happened After: Garfield's vice president, Chester A. Arthur, served out the remainder of his predecessor's term.
Before Garfield died, Arthur had actively worked against the president's efforts to combat the spoils system. When Arthur became the commander in chief, however, he continued Garfield's cause of civil service reform.
For his part, Guiteau was immediately apprehended. He was bitter about not receiving a diplomatic post - something he believed he'd earned via the spoils system. Guiteau was mentally ill but tried and convicted of murder. He was hanged on June 30, 1882.
When He Died: September 14, 1901
How He Died: William McKinley was about seven months into his second presidential term when he was shot at a speaking engagement in Buffalo, NY. Anarchist Leon Czolgosz listened as McKinley addressed a crowd of thousands on the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition on September 6. When McKinley met with members of the public, Czolgosz shot him twice in the abdomen as he went through the receiving line.
McKinley was pushed away to receive medical assistance while Czolgosz was beaten by the crowd. Doctors operated on McKinley and, although one of the bullets ricocheted and caused little damage, the other could not be found. After surgery, McKinley seemed to be recovering, but gangrene and an infection set in. McKinley died in the early morning of September 14.
What Happened After: McKinley had cried out for the crowd to spare Czolgosz, a plea that may have saved the assassin's life. Czolgosz was put on trial and convicted, however, and executed on October 29, 1901.
McKinley's first vice president was Garret Hobart. Hobart died in 1889 and was replaced by Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt took the oath of office on the day McKinley died.
Roosevelt, who would be the president of the United States until 1909, favored a more aggressive foreign policy than his predecessor. McKinley ultimately acquiesced to public opinion when it came to the annexation of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Roosevelt was much more inclined to take a bigger role in global affairs. His “Big Stick” ideology ultimately helped establish the United States as a world power.
Roosevelt also focused on domestic matters, namely conservation and combatting overreaching business activities.
- Photo:
- White House Press Office (WHPO)
- Wikimedia Commons
- Public domain
When He Died: November 22, 1963
How He Died: President John F. Kennedy was visiting Dallas, TX, with his wife, Jacqueline, when he was shot and killed. After a morning of public appearances, the Kennedys were traversing downtown Dallas as crowds watched and cheered. Bullets descended upon their motorcade, two of which struck President Kennedy.
The president was rushed to the hospital as a stunned world watched and listened to news reports of the events unfolding in Dallas. Kennedy had been shot in the head and in the back. His wounds proved to be fatal and his death was announced later that afternoon.
What Happened After: Kennedy's body was transported back to Washington, DC, aboard Air Force One. Vice president Lyndon Johnson, also in Dallas at the time, was sworn in as Jacqueline Kennedy watched.
The entire nation went into mourning after Kennedy's death. The young president had breathed new energy into the country and the office, all of which seemed lost. Kennedy's funeral was held on November 25, 1963, and he was subsequently buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
President Johnson continued many of his predecessor's policies. Civil Rights legislation passed during the Johnson administration as did tax cuts and support of the space program. Johnson also tasked Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren with heading up the investigation into the Kennedy assassination.
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