Eight American presidents have been shot while in office, and their experiences have shaped security practices, medical responses, and the historical record. Four of these attacks proved fatal, while four presidents survived despite severe injuries. Each shooting occurred in a distinct political and social context, influencing everything from succession practices to the public perception of the presidency. This overview reconciles timelines, medical realities, and verified outcomes, focusing on confirmed facts from official investigations, medical records, and contemporary documentation. The following sections detail each incident, its immediate consequences, long-term effects on policy or culture, and what authoritative sources report.
Key Outcomes at a Glance
Below is a concise overview of the eight confirmed shooting incidents involving U.S. presidents, ordered by date. Outcomes, attacker status, and lasting impacts vary significantly, yet each case contributed to evolving security and protocol reforms.
| President | Date | Location | Outcome for President | Attacker Fate | Immediate Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln | April 14, 1865 | Washington, D.C., Ford’s Theatre | Died (April 15, 1865) | Killed while resisting arrest | Andrew Johnson inaugurated as 17th president |
| James A. Garfield | July 2, 1881 | Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station | Died (September 19, 1881) | Executed by hanging after trial | Chester A. Arthur inaugurated as 21st president |
| William McKinley | September 6, 1901 | Buffalo, New York, Pan-American Exposition | Died (September 14, 1901) | Executed by electric chair after trial | Theodore Roosevelt inaugurated as 26th president |
| Theodore Roosevelt | October 14, 1912 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Survived (wounded) | Executed after trial | Continued campaign; did not concede until November 8 |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | February 15, 1933 | Miami, Florida | Survived (wounded) | Executed before trial | Inauguration proceeded on March 4 |
| Harry S. Truman | November 1, 1950 | Washington, D.C., Blair House | Survived (wounded; two White House officers killed) | Killed by Secret Service gunfire | No disruption to inauguration; Truman inside building |
| John F. Kennedy | November 22, 1963 | Dallas, Texas | Died (November 23, 1963) | Killed by police during arrest | Lyndon B. Johnson inaugurated as 36th president |
| Ronald Reagan | March 30, 1981 | Washington, D.C., Washington Hilton Hotel | Survived (wounded) | Sentenced to institutionalization; died in 2016 | Staff and visitor injuries; continuity of government protocols tested |
Abraham Lincoln
On April 14, 1865, actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln was seated in the president’s box when Booth entered, shot him at point-blank range, and stabbed a major present before escaping. Lincoln never regained consciousness and died in the early morning of April 15. Medical care at the time was limited; standard practices of the era included bleeding and administering stimulants, which likely worsened his condition. Booth was cornered and killed eleven days later, while co-conspirators faced trial and execution. Lincoln’s assassination reshaped Reconstruction priorities and led to an extended federal focus on stability during a fragile reunification.
Aftermath and Historical Impact
Lincoln’s death triggered a constitutional first: the full succession of executive power to Vice President Andrew Johnson, who faced immediate challenges in continuing Reconstruction. The federal response intensified manhunt operations and temporarily suspended habeas corpus in parts of the North. In cultural memory, the event cemented the presidency as both symbol and target, prompting early discussions about presidential security details that would later evolve into the Secret Service’s protective mission.
James A. Garfield
On July 2, 1881, Charles Guiteau shot President James A. Garfield at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C., two months into his term. Guiteau, who had stalked the president for weeks, fired twice, lodging one bullet near the president’s spine and another in his right arm. Garfield survived the shooting but medical care was unsanitary; physicians probed the wound with unsterilized fingers and instruments, introducing infection. He lingered for 79 days before dying on September 19, 1881, likely from sepsis. Guiteau was convicted and hanged.
Long-Term Medical and Administrative Effects
The prolonged suffering and death of Garfield drew national attention to antiseptic practices, accelerating the adoption of Lister’s methods in U.S. medicine. The episode also exposed gaps in presidential security and succession planning, leading to increased calls for formal protection mechanisms. Chester A. Arthur, a longtime political figure, assumed the presidency and navigated reforms to the civil service, partially in response to the turmoil surrounding Garfield’s death.
William McKinley
President William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Two bullets struck McKinley; one grazed his sternum, while another entered his abdomen. Initially, McKinley appeared to recover, and physicians declared him out of danger after several days. However, gangrene set in due to infection, and he died on September 14. Czolgosz was tried and executed in the electric chair. McKinley’s death led to Theodore Roosevelt assuming the presidency at age 42.
Security and Political Ramifications
The shooting prompted widespread criticism of lax public-event security and led to the Secret Service formally adding presidential protection to its mandate in 1902. Roosevelt’s energetic presidency and progressive policies marked a significant ideological shift, demonstrating how one violent act could redirect national policy for decades.
Theodore Roosevelt: 1912 Attempt
On October 14, 1912, during the presidential campaign as a third-party candidate, Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bullet was slowed by a steel eyeglass case and a thick speech in his jacket, and Roosevelt declined immediate surgery, insisting on delivering his address. He later stabilized and continued the campaign, ultimately losing the election but proving that a determined attack did not necessarily end a political career. The shooter, John Schrank, was ruled mentally ill and institutionalized.
Medical and Campaign Consequences
Roosevelt’s decision to delay treatment underscored the era’s limited emergency medical response capabilities outside major cities. His survival also highlighted the resilience of political momentum, as he maintained active public engagement throughout recovery. The incident spurred conversations about protecting major-party candidates and the symbolic importance of presidential stamina.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1933 Attempt
On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt was shot in Miami, Florida, by Giuseppe Zangara, who aimed at Roosevelt but struck others in the crowd. Chicago mayor Anton Cermak died from his wounds; Roosevelt was grazed but uninjured. Zangara was executed shortly after the shooting, expressing hatred for all rulers and politicians. FDR’s inauguration proceeded as scheduled on March 4, 1933.
Continuity and Conspiracy Theories
The event raised questions about emerging threats against democratic leaders and intensified calls for better intelligence and protective operations. Although Roosevelt remained unharmed, the attempt reinforced the need for discreet, coordinated security measures, especially as global fascism was on the rise. Historical assessments note that the incident exemplified the volatility of the political climate during the Great Depression.
Harry S. Truman: 1950 Attempt
On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to storm Blair House in Washington, D.C., to draw attention to Puerto Rico’s independence movement. White House officers and Secret Service agents engaged the attackers in a gunfight; Torresola and one officer died, while three officers and Truman were unharmed. The attackers sought to assassinate Truman to advance Puerto Rican independence.
Security and Diplomatic Repercussions
The Blair House attack led to upgrades in executive residence security and reinforced coordination between the Secret Service and local law enforcement. Truman’s calm handling of the incident preserved continuity of government during a tense early Cold War period. No lasting physical harm to the president reinforced the resilience of protected executive spaces, yet it highlighted vulnerabilities in perimeter defense.
John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald fired three shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository; Kennedy was struck in the back and head and pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial Hospital that afternoon. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in aboard Air Force One later that day. Oswald was killed two days later by Jack Ruby, precluding a full trial and official interrogation.
Investigations and Cultural Legacy
The Warren Commission concluded that Oswald acted alone, though subsequent investigations and public skepticism have fueled extensive debate and research. The assassination intensified Cold War anxieties, reshaped Secret Service procedures, and left a lasting cultural imprint, influencing media coverage, conspiracy discourse, and presidential memorial practices. The event remains a pivotal reference point in discussions about political violence and historical memory.