Potus Geeks Summer Reruns: The Bullet That Missed FDR
[Originally Posted February 15, 2011]
On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt was giving an impromptu speech from the back of an open car in the Bayfront Park area of Miami, Florida. Also in FDR's car was Anton Cermak, the Mayor of Chicago. In the crowd was Giuseppe Zangara, an Italian born bricklayer, who was also a World War One veteran. Zangara was living in Miami at the time, working at odd jobs. Zangara joined the crowd, armed with a .32-caliber pistol he had bought at a local pawn shop. He was only five feet tall, and therefore was unable to see over other people, so he stood on a wobbly folding metal chair, peering over the hat of a woman named Lillian Cross, a doctor's wife, to get a clear look at those in the President's car.
Zangara fired his first shot at the car, but his arm was bumped by Mrs. Cross as he was taking aim. Mrs. Cross and others grabbed Zangara's arm. He fired four more shots wildly. The bullets missed FDR, but five other people were hit, including Chicago mayor Anton Cermak, who was standing on the running board of the car next to Roosevelt.
En route to the hospital, Cermak had allegedly told FDR, "I'm glad it was me and not you, Mr. President", words now inscribed on a plaque in Bayfront Park in Miami. Chicago newsman Len O'Connor claimed that this legend was totally fabricated by Chicago aldermen "Paddy" Bauler and Charlie Weber. In fact relations between Cermak and FDR were strained because Cermak fought FDR's nomination at the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Zangara began plotting to assassinate President Herbert Hoover, but was unable to do so. When Roosevelt was elected, Zangara changed his plan. He is quoted as saying "Hoover and Roosevelt — everybody the same."
In the Dade County Courthouse jail, Zangara confessed. He reportedly said: "I have the gun in my hand. I kill kings and presidents first and next all capitalists." He pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to 80 years in prison. As he was led out of the courtroom, Zangara told the judge: "Four times 20 is 80. Oh, judge, don't be stingy. Give me a hundred years."
Mayor Cermak died of peritonitis 19 days later, on March 6, 1933, two days after Roosevelt's inauguration. Zangara was promptly indicted for first-degree murder in Cermak's death. Zangara pleaded guilty to the additional murder charge, and was sentenced to die. Zangara, after hearing his sentence, was quoted as saying: "You give me electric chair. I no afraid of that chair! You one of capitalists. You is crook man too. Put me in electric chair. I no care!" On March 20, 1933, after spending only 10 days on Death Row, Zangara was executed in "Old Sparky", the electric chair at Florida State Penitentiary in Raiford, Florida.
On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt was giving an impromptu speech from the back of an open car in the Bayfront Park area of Miami, Florida. Also in FDR's car was Anton Cermak, the Mayor of Chicago. In the crowd was Giuseppe Zangara, an Italian born bricklayer, who was also a World War One veteran. Zangara was living in Miami at the time, working at odd jobs. Zangara joined the crowd, armed with a .32-caliber pistol he had bought at a local pawn shop. He was only five feet tall, and therefore was unable to see over other people, so he stood on a wobbly folding metal chair, peering over the hat of a woman named Lillian Cross, a doctor's wife, to get a clear look at those in the President's car.
Zangara fired his first shot at the car, but his arm was bumped by Mrs. Cross as he was taking aim. Mrs. Cross and others grabbed Zangara's arm. He fired four more shots wildly. The bullets missed FDR, but five other people were hit, including Chicago mayor Anton Cermak, who was standing on the running board of the car next to Roosevelt.
En route to the hospital, Cermak had allegedly told FDR, "I'm glad it was me and not you, Mr. President", words now inscribed on a plaque in Bayfront Park in Miami. Chicago newsman Len O'Connor claimed that this legend was totally fabricated by Chicago aldermen "Paddy" Bauler and Charlie Weber. In fact relations between Cermak and FDR were strained because Cermak fought FDR's nomination at the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Zangara began plotting to assassinate President Herbert Hoover, but was unable to do so. When Roosevelt was elected, Zangara changed his plan. He is quoted as saying "Hoover and Roosevelt — everybody the same."
In the Dade County Courthouse jail, Zangara confessed. He reportedly said: "I have the gun in my hand. I kill kings and presidents first and next all capitalists." He pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to 80 years in prison. As he was led out of the courtroom, Zangara told the judge: "Four times 20 is 80. Oh, judge, don't be stingy. Give me a hundred years."
Mayor Cermak died of peritonitis 19 days later, on March 6, 1933, two days after Roosevelt's inauguration. Zangara was promptly indicted for first-degree murder in Cermak's death. Zangara pleaded guilty to the additional murder charge, and was sentenced to die. Zangara, after hearing his sentence, was quoted as saying: "You give me electric chair. I no afraid of that chair! You one of capitalists. You is crook man too. Put me in electric chair. I no care!" On March 20, 1933, after spending only 10 days on Death Row, Zangara was executed in "Old Sparky", the electric chair at Florida State Penitentiary in Raiford, Florida.