Historical Events  General
Serving US Presidents shot and killed

Alternate:
2 serving presidents shot and killed

Current:
 4 serving presidents shot and killed

Where were you when you didn't hear about it?

Ask people how many US Presidents have been shot and killed whilst in office and most people will respond with 2 - Lincoln and Kennedy. Some remember Reagan being shot but he wasn't killed.

They might be experiencing a Mandela Effect, however, because the records today showing it was 4 comes as more than just a surprise - they are sure they would have heard this before. As with many other Mandela Effects, it's more than just happening to miss this fact their entire life - it's as if it changed for them suddenly.

Worth noting is the well-known list of co-incidences with the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations - but that's for another time!

Goodbye, Mr President

The four killed by gunshot whilst in office are:

  • Abraham Lincoln (16th President)
  • James A Garfield (20th President)
  • William McKinley (25th President)
  • John F Kennedy (35th President)

Lincoln Assassination

15 April 1865: President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in a Theatre in Washington DC. After being shot in the head, he died in hospital the following day.

Garfield Assassination

19 September 1881: President James A Garfield was shot by Charles J Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C. He died 79 days later.

McKinley Assassination 

14 September 1901: President William McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgosz at the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. He died 8 days later.

Kennedy Assassination 

22 November 1963: President John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dealey Plaza, Texas. He died the same day. 

Attempts

The question of how many serving Presidents were shot and killed is clear, however the number of attempts is also surprising - currently over 30. Many people when asked this question can only remember one, and that's quickly going out of living memory - Ronald Reagan.