Appendix VII A Brief History of Presidential Protection

In the course of the history of the United States four Presidents have been assassinated, within less than 100 years, beginning with Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Attempts were also made on the lives of two other Presidents, one President-elect, and one ex-President. Still other Presidents were the objects of plots that were never carried out. The actual attempts occurred as follows:

Andrew Jackson Jan. 30, 1835.

Abraham Lincoln Apr. 14, 1865. Died Apr. 15, 1865.

James A. Garfield July 2, 1881. Died Sept. 19, 1881.

William McKinley Sept. 6, 1901. Died Sept. 14, 1901.

Theodore Roosevelt Oct. 14, 1912. Wounded; recovered.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Feb. 15, 1933.

Harry S. Truman Nov. 1, 1950.

John F. Kennedy Nov. 22, 1963. Died that day.

Attempts have thus been made on the lives of one of every five American Presidents. One of every nine Presidents has been killed. Since 1865, there have been attempts on the lives of one of every four Presidents and the successful assassination of one of every five. During the last three decades, three attacks were made.

It was only after William McKinley was shot that systematic and continuous protection of the President was instituted. Protection before McKinley was intermittent and spasmodic. The problem had existed from the days of the early Presidents, but no action was taken until three tragic events had occurred. In considering the effectiveness of present day protection arrangements, it is worthwhile to examine the development of Presidential protection over the years, to understand both the high degree of continuing danger and the anomalous reluctance to take the necessary precautions.