The Irony of Political Violence

While every ill-intentioned attempt on an innocent life is despicable, the collateral effects are often not as the attacker intends, especially when high-profile figures are involved. While the MSM and internet sleuths speculate regarding the attacker’s motive and intention, one thing is clear; he wanted to kill President Trump and failed. While the fallout from this deranged act is yet to be fully revealed, the history of political violence in America provides a pattern that could potentially predict what we can expect. 

The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 is a prime example. John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, believed that killing Lincoln would reignite the Southern efforts. In his flair for the dramatic, he believed that removing the ‘tyrant’ at the forefront of the opposing movement would rally support for the Confederacy. Instead, Lincoln’s death solidified his legacy as a martyr and further united the Union. The resolve of the North was strengthened and ensured that Reconstruction would proceed ultimately ending the Confederacy.

The assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 is another example of the unintended consequences. Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, aimed to destabilize the government and promote anarchism by killing McKinley. However, following McKinley’s death, Theodore Roosevelt took office. Roosevelt’s presidency marked the beginning of the Progressive Era. Instead of weakening the government, Czolgosz catalyzed a period of strong federal intervention and reform that shaped modern American society.

Conspiracies aside, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 had a similarly paradoxical effect. Lee Harvey Oswald, a Marxist, whose actions presumably were intended to disrupt or protest against the U.S. government, resulted in a wave of national grief and a rallying around the Kennedy legacy. This period of mourning and unity led to an increase in support for legislative changes championed by Kennedy.

Even unsuccessful assassination attempts can have unintended consequences. For instance, the assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford in 1975 highlighted the dangers faced by public officials and led to increased security measures and protection of public officials to keep the system of political discourse intact. Additionally, in 1981, John Hinckley’s attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan aimed to achieve personal notoriety. Instead, it resulted in a surge of public support for Reagan, who survived the attack. Reagan’s swift return to duty boosted his popularity and solidified his reputation as a resilient and committed leader.