Political Assassination & Business

Market volatility, economic instability & civil unrest .

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Unfortunately, the topic of political assassination is again in the news this week with the second attempt on former President Trump’s life.  As such, we thought it timely to look at a few historic facts and the potential ramifications for business if such an attempt was successful.

There have been four sitting Presidents assassinated in the history of the United States:

John F. Kennedy (1963): The 35th President was assassinated reportedly by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas, Texas, in an event that profoundly impacted American history and culture.
William McKinley (1901): The 25th President was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, during a public event.
James A. Garfield (1881): The 20th President was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, and died from his wounds after months of suffering.
Abraham Lincoln (1865): The 16th President of the U.S. was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, at the end of the Civil War.

Throughout U.S. history, there have also been various unsuccessful political assassinations attempts on Presidents.  Here are some of the most notable ones:

Andrew Jackson (1835):  Assailant: Richard Lawrence – An unemployed house painter, attempted to shoot President Jackson as he left a funeral at the Capitol. Both of Lawrence’s pistols misfired, and Jackson reportedly beat him with a cane before he was subdued. Lawrence was later declared insane and institutionalized.
Theodore Roosevelt (1912):  Assailant: John Schrank – While campaigning for a third term as president under the Progressive Party, Roosevelt was shot in the chest by Schrank. Despite being wounded, Roosevelt went on to deliver a 90-minute speech with the bullet still lodged in his body. His thick speech manuscript and eyeglass case helped slow the bullet. Schrank was deemed mentally ill and spent the rest of his life in an asylum.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933):   Assailant: Giuseppe Zangara – An Italian immigrant, fired several shots at Roosevelt during a speech in Miami. He missed Roosevelt but killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, who was standing nearby. Zangara was arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime.
Harry S. Truman (1950):  Assailants: Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola – The two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to storm Blair House, where Truman was staying during White House renovations. In a gunfight with Secret Service agents and police, Torresola was killed, and Collazo was wounded and captured. Truman was inside and unharmed.
Gerald Ford (1975): First Attempt Assailant: Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme (September 1975)                   Second Attempt Assailant: Sara Jane Moore (September 1975) – In Sacramento, California, Fromme, a member of Charles Manson’s cult, attempted to shoot President Ford with a handgun but the weapon did not fire. Just 17 days later, in San Francisco, Moore fired a shot at Ford but missed. Both women were apprehended and sentenced to prison.
Ronald Reagan (1981):  Assailant: John Hinckley Jr. – Hinckley shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, wounding him in the chest. Reagan was seriously injured but recovered after surgery. Three others were also injured, including Press Secretary James Brady, who was left permanently disabled. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent years in a psychiatric hospital.

Above and beyond the moral issue and being an obvious national trauma, a political assassination can ripple across a business landscape, creating economic instability, regulatory uncertainty, and operational challenges with far-reaching effects on business, both in the immediate aftermath and in the long term.

Here are a few:

Market Volatility: Political assassinations can trigger sharp reactions in financial markets. Investors often fear instability and uncertainty, leading to stock market declines and volatility.
Consumer Confidence and Spending: Political assassinations often lead to reduced consumer confidence, especially if people fear instability or economic downturns.
Supply Chain Disruptions: Political assassinations can disrupt local and international trade, particularly if the incident leads to protests, border closures, or interruptions in transportation networks.
Civil Unrest and Physical Security: Businesses may experience operational disruptions due to civil unrest, protests, or violence.


Please keep in mind this information should not be considered as financial advice. Investment decisions should be based on individual research and consultation with a qualified financial professional. The value of investments can fluctuate, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consider your risk tolerance and financial goals before making investment decisions.


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About The Publisher

Jeff Corbett
As entrepreneur, author and magazine publisher with over 25 years’ experience in the global marketplace, I enjoy writing as an advocate for international business and personal freedoms. Thanks to my experiences building businesses I also have a tremendous interest in reading or writing about motivation and self-discipline.