The American presidency brings power, ceremony, and an extraordinary level of personal danger. Across nearly two centuries, presidents, presidents-elect, former presidents, and candidates have faced gunmen, bombs, hijacking schemes, and attacks on their residences. Some incidents changed history instantly; others failed through mechanical accidents, quick-thinking bystanders, or security responses measured in seconds. These 20 episodes reveal how often national leadership has come frighteningly close to catastrophe—and how surprisingly ordinary moments became scenes of lasting historical consequence for the entire country.
#1: Andrew Jackson’s Double Misfire — 1835
On January 30, 1835, unemployed house painter Richard Lawrence confronted Andrew Jackson outside the Capitol and pulled a pistol at close range. It misfired. Lawrence produced a second weapon, which also failed. Jackson reportedly charged him with his cane before bystanders intervened. Investigators later found both pistols functional, making the double failure remarkable. The first known attempt against a sitting American president ended with gun smoke, confusion, and one exceptionally furious seventy-year-old target that day.
