#OnThisDate February 15, 1933: Narrow Escape

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President-Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt Narrowly Escaped An Assassination Attempt In Miami, Florida. The Assailant, Giuseppe Zangara, An Italian Immigrant, Fired Multiple Shots, Fatally Wounding Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak And Injuring Four Others. This Incident Not Only Highlighted The Vulnerabilities Of Public Figures But Also Underscored The Political Tensions Of The Era.

Roosevelt Had Traveled To Miami To Deliver A Speech At Bayfront Park. Seated Atop The Back Seat Of An Open Convertible, He Addressed A Crowd Of Supporters. As He Concluded His Remarks Around 9:15 PM, Zangara, Standing Approximately 25 Feet Away, Fired Five Shots From A .32-Caliber Revolver. Despite His Proximity, None Of The Bullets Struck Roosevelt. Instead, Mayor Cermak, Who Was Standing On The Running Board Of Roosevelt's Car, Received A Mortal Wound To The Abdomen. Other Victims Included Mrs. Joseph H. Gill, Miss Margaret Kruis, Russell Caldwell, And New York Detective William Sinnott. Notably, Mrs. Lillian Cross, A Bystander, Played A Crucial Role In Deflecting Zangara's Aim By Hitting His Arm With Her Purse.

In The Immediate Aftermath, Roosevelt Displayed Remarkable Composure. He Cradled The Wounded Cermak As The Car Sped To Jackson Memorial Hospital. Reports From The Time Suggest That Cermak, In His Final Moments, Told Roosevelt, "I'm Glad It Was Me Instead Of You." However, The Authenticity Of This Statement Has Been Debated Among Historians.

Giuseppe Zangara, Born On September 7, 1900, In Ferruzzano, Calabria, Italy, Had Emigrated To The United States In 1923. He Suffered From Chronic Abdominal Pain, Which He Claimed Fueled His Hatred For Public Officials, Whom He Blamed For His Suffering. Following His Arrest, Zangara Expressed No Remorse, Stating, "I Have The Gun In My Hand. I Kill Kings And Presidents First And Next All Capitalists." Initially Charged With Attempted Murder, Zangara's Charges Were Elevated To First-Degree Murder After Cermak's Death On March 6, 1933. He Was Swiftly Convicted And Executed In Florida's Electric Chair On March 20, 1933.

The Assassination Attempt Had Significant Political Ramifications. It Exposed The Need For Enhanced Security Measures For Public Figures And Highlighted The Volatile Political Climate Of The Early 1930s. The Incident Also Led To Various Conspiracy Theories. Some Speculated That Cermak, Not Roosevelt, Was The Intended Target Due To His Efforts To Combat Organized Crime In Chicago. However, No Concrete Evidence Has Substantiated These Claims.

In The Broader Context, Roosevelt's Survival Allowed Him To Assume The Presidency On March 4, 1933, During The Depths Of The Great Depression. His Leadership During This Tumultuous Period Led To Significant Policy Reforms Under The New Deal, Reshaping The American Socio-Economic Landscape. The Attempt On His Life Served As A Stark Reminder Of The Ever-Present Risks Faced By Public Officials And The Unpredictable Nature Of Political Extremism.

Today, A Plaque At Miami's Bayfront Park Commemorates The Event, Bearing The Inscription Of Cermak's Purported Words To Roosevelt. This Memorial Stands As A Testament To A Pivotal Moment In American History, Reflecting Both The Fragility Of Life And The Resilience Of Democratic Institutions In The Face Of Adversity.

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