From Lincoln to Trump: A history of presidential assassination attempts

Donald Trump was the target of what the FBI called an "attempted assassination" at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. This happened just nine weeks after another attempt on his life. 

In this article let's revisit some of the most notable examples of historical instances where US presidents and presidential candidates faced violent attacks. 

Abraham Lincoln 

James A. Garfield

President James A. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau in Washington, D.C., in 1881. Garfield succumbed to his injuries after a long, painful struggle, making him the second U.S. president to be assassinated while in office.

William McKinley  

President McKinley was shot and killed by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo, New York, in 1901. McKinley's death led to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, who would later survive his own assassination attempt.

Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

John F. Kennedy

Many Americans believe the death of JFK marked the beginning of a more violent period in US politics and society, with the Vietnam War build-up and the civil rights struggle as a backdrop.

Robert F. Kennedy 

George Wallace
While campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, George Wallace was shot four times and paralyzed for life at a shopping mall in Laurel, Maryland. The assassination attempt on Wallace, who was known for his segregationist views and populist appeal, highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the US and potential for domestic violence in the Vietnam War era.

Gerald Ford

Ronald Reagan