5 Public Figures Who Escaped Assassination

Throughout history, several high-profile individuals have narrowly escaped death through failed assassination attempts. These incidents not only highlight the vulnerabilities of public figures but also demonstrate both the intense security measures and the luck involved in thwarting potential disasters. From U.S. Presidents to global leaders, explore five dramatic moments where fate intervened at the last second.

1.President Gerald Ford (1975)

President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts within the same month. The first, by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, occurred on Sept. 5, 1975, in Sacramento, California. Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, failed to fire a bullet. The second attempt was made by Sara Jane Moore in San Francisco, just 17 days later. Moore fired a shot at Ford but missed after a bystander intervened. Both women were apprehended and faced substantial prison sentences.

2. President Theodore Roosevelt (1912)

Theodore Roosevelt, while campaigning in Milwaukee in 1912, was shot by saloon owner John Schrank, but the bullet was significantly slowed by a steel glasses case and a thickly folded speech in his pocket, causing only minor damage. Rather than seeking immediate medical attention, Roosevelt chose to proceed with his planned speech, famously beginning with an announcement of his injury and asserting his resilience. Demonstrating extraordinary determination, he spoke for 90 minutes, epitomizing his robust “Bull Moose” persona.

3. Adolf Hitler (1944)

The Wolfsschanze after the bomb explosion. Photo by Bundesarchiv, Bild.

Operation Valkyrie, the most renowned of the 42 assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler, took place on July 20, 1944, orchestrated by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and the German Resistance. The plan involved a briefcase bomb which was inadvertently moved by General Heinz Brandt, altering the blast’s direction, resulting in the deaths of Brandt and three others, but only leaving Hitler with a perforated eardrum. The failure of the plot led to the execution of those involved in the resistance movement.

4. President Ronald Reagan (1981)

Reagan moments before he was shot, 1981.

On March 30, 1981, just outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. Although wounded, Reagan recovered quickly. Hinckley aimed to impress actress Jodie Foster and was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. This event led to significant changes in presidential security measures.

5. Fidel Castro (638 attempts)

The CIA concocted numerous plans to assassinate Fidel Castro, contributing to over 600 known attempts on his life by various parties including Cuban exiles. Some of the more outlandish CIA schemes involved booby-trapped mollusk shells and a toxic diving suit, capitalizing on Castro’s passion for scuba diving. Despite the myriad of attempts using methods ranging from explosive cigars to bacterial poisons, Castro outlived all these plots, remaining a figure of significant historical impact.

These thwarted attempts highlight the precarious nature of public figures’ safety and the ongoing threats they face due to their positions and the symbolic power they hold.

References: 9 Things You May Not Know About Gerald Ford | Attempted Assassination of President Ronald Reagan | The 10 Craziest Failed Assassination Attempts