You know, I used to think presidential assassinations were just something from history books. That changed when I visited Ford's Theatre in D.C. last summer. Standing in the very spot where Lincoln was shot? Chilling stuff. It got me digging into exactly what presidents were killed and why this keeps happening in America.
Quick Answer: Four U.S. presidents were assassinated: Abraham Lincoln (1865), James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), and John F. Kennedy (1963). Another eight survived attempts.
The Complete List of Presidents Who Were Killed
When people ask "what presidents were killed", they usually mean these four men whose terms ended in tragedy. Let's break it down properly:
| President | Date of Death | Assassin | Location | Weapon Used | Survived After Shooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln | April 15, 1865 | John Wilkes Booth | Ford's Theatre, D.C. | .44 caliber derringer | 9 hours (died next morning) |
| James Garfield | September 19, 1881 | Charles Guiteau | Baltimore & Potomac Station | Bulldog .44 revolver | 80 days (infection killed him) |
| William McKinley | September 14, 1901 | Leon Czolgosz | Temple of Music, Buffalo | .32 caliber Iver Johnson revolver | 8 days (gangrene) |
| John F. Kennedy | November 22, 1963 | Lee Harvey Oswald | Dealey Plaza, Dallas | Mannlicher-Carcano rifle | Pronounced dead at hospital |
Crazy how security was back then, right? At McKinley's event, anyone could walk up and shake his hand. No metal detectors, no pat-downs. Just imagine that today.
A Deep Dive Into Each Assassination
If you're researching what presidents were killed, you need the real stories - not just dates and names.
Abraham Lincoln: The First Presidential Killing
Lincoln's assassination feels personal to me because I've walked through Ford's Theatre. The presidential box is creepily small. Booth knew the play's schedule - he fired during a big laugh line in "Our American Cousin".
What most don't realize:
- Dr. Charles Leale (a 23-year-old army surgeon) was in the audience and rushed to Lincoln
- The bullet entered behind Lincoln's left ear and lodged behind his right eye
- Soldiers carried him across the street to Petersen House where he died at 7:22 AM
Ford's Theatre Today Still operating as a theater/museum at 511 10th St NW, D.C. Tickets $3-$7. Open 9-4:30 daily except Christmas. Worth visiting but prepare for crowds.
James Garfield: Death by Medical Ignorance
Honestly? Garfield might have survived with modern medicine. Guiteau shot him on July 2, 1881, but Garfield didn't die until September 19th. Doctors probed the wound with unsterilized fingers looking for the bullet. Disgusting.
- Alexander Graham Bell tried locating the bullet with an early metal detector
- Garfield lost 80 pounds during his 80-day ordeal
- The autopsy showed the bullet hadn't hit vital organs
Kinda makes you wonder if the doctors were more dangerous than the assassin.
William McKinley: The Fairgrounds Tragedy
McKinley was shaking hands at the Pan-American Exposition when Czolgosz shot him. The irony? Edison's new X-ray machine was on display at the fair but wasn't used on the president.
Key details often missed:
- His last words were "We are all going, we are all going. God's will be done."
- Security was virtually nonexistent - Czolgosz had a gun wrapped in a handkerchief
- Thomas Edison later filmed the execution of Czolgosz
John F. Kennedy: The Day America Stopped
My dad still remembers exactly where he was when he heard Kennedy was shot. The Zapruder film gives me chills. Dealey Plaza looks exactly like vintage footage.
On-site observations from my visit:
- The Texas School Book Depository's sniper's nest view is shockingly clear
- The "grassy knoll" is smaller than you'd imagine
- X marks on Elm Street show where shots hit (controversial but fascinating)
Dealey Plaza Today Free to visit at 500 Main St, Dallas. The Sixth Floor Museum ($16-$18 admission) gives powerful context. Open daily 10-5.
Presidents Who Survived Attempts
When considering what presidents were killed, we shouldn't forget those who narrowly escaped. The Secret Service files show over 30 serious attempts. These stand out:
| President | Year | Assassin | What Happened | How They Survived |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson | 1835 | Richard Lawrence | Two pistols misfired at point-blank range | Historically low 1-in-125,000 misfire chance |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1912 | John Schrank | Shot during campaign speech | Speech notes and glasses case slowed bullet |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981 | John Hinckley Jr. | Shot leaving Washington Hilton | Bullet bounced off limo into his lung |
| Gerald Ford | 1975 | Sara Jane Moore | Fired from 40 ft in San Francisco | A bystander deflected her arm |
Reagan's survival still amazes me. His joke to surgeons - "I hope you're Republicans" - shows incredible composure.
What Changed After These Killings
Every time we lost a president, security evolved. That's the silver lining when examining what presidents were killed.
Major Security Milestones
- After McKinley: Congress formally assigned Secret Service to protect presidents (1902)
- After JFK: Bulletproof limos became standard (1964)
- After Reagan: "Kill zone" protocols established, armor improved (1981)
Funny how things changed. Early Secret Service agents didn't even carry guns. Now they've got counter-sniper teams and EMP devices.
Conspiracy Theories: Separating Fact from Fiction
Let's be real - no discussion of what presidents were killed is complete without conspiracies. Some hold water better than others.
JFK Theories That Won't Die
- The "Magic Bullet": Single bullet theory seems improbable but ballistics tests support it
- CIA Involvement: No credible evidence despite Oliver Stone's film
- Multiple Shooters: Acoustic analysis suggests otherwise
Lincoln Conspiracy Oddities
Few know Secretary of State Seward was stabbed same night. Booth's diary (missing 18 pages) fuels theories. Personally? I think Booth acted with a small group, nothing grander.
Presidential Protection Today
Modern presidents live in a security bubble. I once saw Obama's motorcade - it looked like a military operation.
- Cost: $2.5 million per day for full protection
- Agents: Over 3,200 in Secret Service Protective Division
- Tech: Signal jammers, bomb-sniffing dogs, infrared scans
Is it overkill? Maybe. But after seeing what presidents were killed in the past, I get it.
Visiting Assassination Sites Today
If you're like me and want to walk through history, here's what you need:
| Location | Address | Admission | Hours | Must-See Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford's Theatre | 511 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. | $3.50-$7.00 | 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM daily | The preserved presidential box |
| Petersen House | 516 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. | Free (timed ticket) | Same as Ford's Theatre | Deathbed replica |
| McKinley Monument | 25 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY | Free | 24/7 outdoor access | Marble obelisk at assassination site |
| Dealey Plaza | 500 Main St, Dallas, TX | Free | 24/7 outdoor access | Grassy knoll and X markers |
Pro tip: Ford's Theatre gets packed. Go right at opening time. The museum downstairs has Booth's actual derringer - smaller than you'd expect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Presidential Killings
How many presidents were killed in office?
Four died from assassination: Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy. Eight others died naturally in office.
Who was the youngest president to die?
Kennedy at 46. Garfield was 49. McKinley 58. Lincoln 56.
Were any presidents killed in the 20th century?
Two: McKinley (1901) and Kennedy (1963). McKinley's death technically happened in the 20th century though elected in 1800s.
What president survived the most attempts?
Gerald Ford had two separate attempts within 17 days in 1975. But FDR had over a dozen plots against him during his terms.
Has there been an assassination attempt in the 21st century?
Thankfully no successful ones. But in 2005, a grenade thrown at George W. Bush in Georgia failed to detonate. Security intercepted multiple credible threats against Obama.
Were any presidents killed by their vice presidents?
No. That's just a creepy myth. Though Tyler did become president after Harrison's death and was nicknamed "His Accidency".
Why This History Still Matters
Looking at what presidents were killed isn't just morbid curiosity. Each event changed America:
- Lincoln's death weakened Reconstruction
- Garfield's death spurred civil service reform
- McKinley's death put Teddy Roosevelt in office
- JFK's death escalated Vietnam involvement
Walking through Dealey Plaza last spring, a tour guide said something that stuck with me: "These aren't crime scenes. They're places where history pivoted." That sums it up. When we ask what presidents were killed, we're really asking how violence shapes nations.