Later presidents faced their own brushes with death. Gerald Ford, for example, survived not one but two assassination attempts in 1975, both carried out by women—an anomaly in presidential history. The first, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford in Sacramento to protest environmental issues but failed to fire because she had not chambered a round. Just 17 days later, Sara Jane Moore fired two shots at Ford in San Francisco. One bystander, Oliver Sipple, acted heroically by deflecting her aim, saving Ford’s life and preventing what might have been another national tragedy.
Ronald Reagan, too, narrowly escaped death in 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire outside a Washington hotel. Reagan was hit by a ricocheted bullet that pierced his lung. What followed became part of Reagan’s enduring legend—his resilience, calm demeanor, and even his wit while recovering. His quip to surgeons, “I hope you’re Republicans,” captured the nation’s imagination and demonstrated how humor and strength can reassure a country even in its most vulnerable moments.
