Sara Jane Moore, who famously fired a handgun at US President Gerald Ford in an assassination attempt in San Francisco in 1975, has died at the age of 95. US media reports confirmed her passing. Moore, who was sentenced to life in prison for the crime, had been released on parole in her later years.
Her attempt on President Ford’s life occurred just 17 days after Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson, also failed to fire a shot at the president. Moore’s assassination attempt, which she claimed was an act intended to spark a revolution, thankfully did not result in any injuries to Ford. The incident has resurfaced in public memory, drawing parallels to discussions about presidential security in light of recent events.
On September 22, 1975, Moore, armed with a newly purchased .38-caliber revolver, aimed at Ford outside a San Francisco hotel. Her first shot missed its target, and a bystande who was a former US Marine managed to subdue her before she could fire a second shot. Moore, a mother of four, pleaded guilty to the charges and served 32 years of her life sentence before being granted parole.
In a 2009 interview, Moore reflected on the tumultuous social and political climate of the 1960s and 1970s, stating that she felt radicalized by the Vietnam War and believed violent revolution was necessary for change. She admitted to genuinely thinking her actions might trigger such a revolution. Investigators at the time found no evidence linking her to any revolutionary groups and deemed her legally sane.
The news of Moore’s death comes shortly after the 50th anniversary of her attempt on Ford’s life. In a separate, recent development, Ryan Routh was found guilty of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course last September. Routh is scheduled for sentencing on December 18th and faces a potential life sentence.