Assassinations, civil conflict too common
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Bridging the Divide
Chuck Bradley
Assassinations and civil conflict have punctuated American history; the motivation and political impact differ significantly depending on the era.
Earlier presidential assassinations were often driven by individual grievances or radical political philosophies, while assassinations in the 1960s were tied to the turbulence of the civil rights movement. More recent events indicate a trend toward politically polarized, individual acts of violence.
Abraham Lincoln (1865): The assassination of President Lincoln was part of a larger conspiracy by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth to destabilize the U.S. government following the Civil War. Lincoln’s death removed his more lenient approach to Reconstruction and enabled Radical Republicans to pursue a harsher policy toward the defeated South.
James A. Garfield (1881): President Garfield was shot by a disgruntled office seeker, Charles Guiteau, who was angry that he had not received a federal post. This act was not driven by a major political movement but by individual revenge and had a significant political consequence: it directly led to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established that federal jobs should be awarded based on merit rather than political patronage.
William McKinley (1901): President McKinley was killed by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who opposed powerful government officials. In response, Congress expanded the Secret Service’s mission to include the protection of the president, a permanent change in national security protocol.
Assassinations fueled by social unrest (1960s)
John F. Kennedy (1963): While the political motive of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald has been debated, Kennedy’s assassination had a major impact on the political landscape. His successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, leveraged the national grief to push through historic civil rights legislation that had been stalled in Congress.
Malcolm X (1965): The civil rights activist’s assassination was tied to rivalries within the Nation of Islam, a Black nationalist and separatist organization.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1968): Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated by James Earl Ray, a white supremacist. King’s death was a major loss for the Civil Rights Movement and was followed by a period of national mourning and riots in cities across the country.
Robert F. Kennedy (1968): Following his victory in the California Democratic primary, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian who opposed Kennedy’s support for Israel. This event added to the perception of a tumultuous Democratic Party and likely influenced the outcome of the 1968 election, which was won by Republican Richard Nixon.
Even Alabama has been victim to civil unrest: The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, on September 15, 1963.
Post-1970s decline: For several decades after the turbulent 1960s, there were no successful assassinations of major political figures, though there were failed attempts against presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
Contemporary partisan violence: Experts note a rise in political violence since the 2010s, with a significant difference compared to previous periods. The focus has shifted from attacks on the government as an institution to individual targets perceived to represent the opposing political faction.
Shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (2017): A lone gunman with anti-Republican views shot and wounded Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise and others at a congressional baseball practice.
Paul Pelosi attack (2022): An assailant looking for then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi attacked her husband with a hammer in their home, an event linked to political conspiracy theories.
Assassination attempt on Donald Trump (2024): A lone gunman shot and wounded presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally.
Killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
Killing of Melissa Hortman (2025): The former Minnesota House Speaker was killed by a man who had created a “hit list” of officials he opposed.
Assassination of Charlie Kirk (2025): The conservative youth leader was killed at a public event. While the motive is under investigation, the attack occurred amid intense political polarization.
The most significant political difference is the nature of the violence itself. Unlike earlier periods, where assassinations were sometimes tied to specific policy grievances or organized conspiracies, recent attacks appear to be driven by extreme partisan polarization, misinformation and the targeting of individuals associated with the “opposing side.” This creates a climate of hostility that makes political figures at all levels of government potential targets.
In my opinion in order to mitigate political and civil differences in the United States, both systemic reforms and individual actions are necessary.
Systemically, reforms like ending partisan gerrymandering, implementing ranked-choice voting and protecting voting rights can encourage compromise and more proportional representation.
Individually, individuals can break out of media bubbles by consuming diverse news sources, focus on specific policies rather than parties and engage in civil conversations with people from other political viewpoints to address misperceptions and find common ground.
Please continue praying for the United States!
Until next week, please send your questions or comments to bradleychuck92@gmail.com.
