Presidential Assassins

[Gene C]

Wesley, Don't forget Hinckley's attempt on President Reagan - mental, and the attempt on President Truman - political, the attempt on President Ford, by a woman with a connection to Charles Manson (mental/political - who is out on parole), the attempt on President Jackson, and there is presidential candidate Robert Kennedy's assassination.

I think John Wilkes Booth was insecure due partly because of his brothers success, (Laura Titone's book "My Thoughts Be Bloody" does a nice job of pointing out some of the problems with the relationship with his family. She didn't have a lot of nice things to say about John) and I think he was possibly bi-polar. He could work himself up into a political zealot frenzy and had the potential (if he wasn't already) of becoming an alcoholic. He gives me the impression of being an imature, impulsive, and undisciplined young man.