Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania. AFP
On a cold day in January 1835, the late President Andrew Jackson was suddenly approached by a mentally disturbed man, named Richard Lawrence, with pistols while attending a funeral at the Capitol.
Fortunately, both pistols misfired, giving Jackson time to counterattack with his cane. Lawrence was apprehended and sentenced to life in a mental institution.
In October 1912, the adventurous and courageous late President Theodore Roosevelt was giving a speech in Milwaukee when John Schrank shot him.
However, Roosevelt's glasses case and a copy of his speech in his pocket slowed the bullet saving his life. Astonishingly, Roosevelt insisted on finishing his speech before seeking medical attention.
In 1933, the late President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt also faced an assassination attempt during a speech in Miami when he was preparing to take office. Giuseppe Zangara, a person suffering from economic woes, fired shots randomly, hitting several people, including Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, who later died. However, Roosevelt escaped unharmed.
In November 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to assassinate late President Harry Truman outside his temporary residence, Blair House, to draw attention to Puerto Rico's independence cause. The confrontation ended with Torresola's death and Collazo's capture.
In addition, the late President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts in September 1975. The first was by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, who failed to fire her gun. The second was by Sara Jane Moore, who fired a missed shot thanks to a quick-thinking bystander.
Furthermore, the late President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 by John Hinckley Jr., who hoped to impress actress Jodie Foster. Reagan was hit in the chest and was quickly rushed to the hospital, where he made a full recovery.
These failed attempts highlight the dangers and violence faced by American presidents and the efforts made to ensure their safety throughout history.
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