Political assassination attempts like we seen this weekend in Pennsylvania against former and now likely President elect Donald J Trump have left indelible marks on the histories of both the United States and Ireland, influencing the course of political events and public sentiment. These attempts often underscore the intense and sometimes violent nature of political conflict.
United States: A Legacy of Violence
The United States has witnessed several high-profile assassination attempts, reflecting its tumultuous political landscape. One of the most infamous is the attempt on President Ronald Reagan’s life on March 30, 1981. John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, motivated by a delusional obsession with actress Jodie Foster. Reagan survived the attack, but the incident underscored the ever-present threat to national leaders and led to significant changes in Secret Service protocols and presidential security.
Another significant attempt occurred on September 5, 1975, when Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in Sacramento, California. Fromme pointed a gun at Ford, but it did not discharge, and she was quickly subdued by Secret Service agents. Just 17 days later, another attempt was made on Ford’s life by Sara Jane Moore, who fired a shot at him in San Francisco but missed. These back-to-back incidents highlighted vulnerabilities in presidential security and the unpredictable nature of assassination attempts.
The assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, remains one of the most tragic events in American political history. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian with political grievances, shot Kennedy in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy’s death significantly altered the political landscape, ending a promising presidential campaign and deepening national divisions during a period of intense social and political upheaval.
Ireland: Struggles for Independence and Peace
In Ireland, political violence has often been intertwined with the nation’s struggle for independence and subsequent efforts to achieve lasting peace. One of the most notable assassination attempts in Irish history is the attack on Michael Collins, a leading figure in the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Civil War. On August 22, 1922, Collins was ambushed and killed in an attack by anti-Treaty forces at Béal na Bláth in County Cork. His death was a significant blow to the pro-Treaty government and marked a turning point in the Civil War.
The Troubles, a conflict in Northern Ireland that spanned from the late 1960s to 1998, also saw numerous assassination attempts. In 1979, Lord Louis Mountbatten, a member of the British royal family ( also linked to the Kincora Boys’ child abuse scandal in Ireland), was killed by a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on his boat in County Sligo. This assassination was part of a broader campaign by the IRA to end British rule in Northern Ireland and underscored the deadly seriousness of the conflict.
Another significant attempt was made on the life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on October 12, 1984. The IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England, where Thatcher was staying during the Conservative Party conference. Thatcher narrowly escaped the blast, which killed five people and injured many others. This attack highlighted the IRA’s willingness to target high-profile political figures to further their cause.
Conclusion: The Impact of Political Violence
Assassination attempts, whether successful or not, have profound impacts on political stability and public morale. In the United States, they have prompted changes in security measures and influenced the course of political careers. In Ireland, they have been both a symptom and a catalyst of the broader conflict over national identity and sovereignty. These events remind us of the volatile nature of politics and the extreme measures some individuals are willing to take to achieve their goals. While assassination attempts are rare, their potential to alter the course of history makes them a significant and somber aspect of political life.
