two attempted assassinations of president Gerald ford
In California in 1975, Gerald Ford narrowly avoided assassination in both Sacramento and San Francisco, California. On September 5th, 1975, as the president crossed L Street from the Senator Hotel to meet with governor Jerry Brown, Lynette Fromme tried to fire on him. Although her gun was loaded with four rounds, a Secret Service agent tackled her before she could get a shot off. A mere two weeks later, on September 22nd, Ford's life became in danger again. After emerging from a World Affairs Council meeting in the Union Square hotel, Ford paused a moment to wave to the people awaiting his departure. Suddenly, two gunshots were heard; the first barely missed the president while the second was moved from its course as a bystander grabbed the assailant's arm. The person attempting to assassinate Ford was a 45 year old housewife and FBI informant, Sara Jane Moore. Ford was nonplussed by these attempts on his life; however, the 1970s were a time of anti-government and anti-war demonstrations and activity, especially in California.