Attempted Assassination of Gerald Ford (Sara Jane Moore)

Moore, a 45-year-old political activist and FBI informant, had been under surveillance by the Secret Service due to her erratic behavior and threats against the president. Unlike Fromme’s environmental motivations, Moore’s actions stemmed from her radical left-wing political beliefs and opposition to Ford’s policies, particularly regarding American involvement in Vietnam and domestic surveillance programs.

The attempt occurred as Ford emerged from the St. Francis Hotel after addressing the World Affairs Council of Northern California. Moore positioned herself across the street from the hotel entrance, approximately 40 feet from Ford, and fired a single shot from a .38-caliber revolver as the president walked toward his limousine.

Her aim was disrupted when Oliver Sipple, a former Marine and Vietnam veteran standing nearby in the crowd, noticed Moore raising the weapon and lunged to grab her arm just as she fired. The bullet struck a wall several feet from Ford’s position, and Moore was immediately tackled and subdued by bystanders and Secret Service agents.

Investigation revealed that Moore had purchased the weapon legally just hours before the assassination attempt, despite being on a Secret Service watch list. She had also test-fired the gun at a shooting range to familiarize herself with its operation, indicating premeditation rather than spontaneous action.

Moore’s background as an FBI informant within radical political groups complicated the investigation, as she had been reporting on leftist organizations while simultaneously becoming radicalized herself. Her dual role raised questions about the FBI’s vetting procedures for informants and the adequacy of communication between agencies regarding potential threats.

She was convicted of attempted assassination and sentenced to life in prison, serving over three decades before being released on parole in 2007. The incident, combined with Fromme’s earlier attempt, prompted major reforms in presidential security procedures and Secret Service threat assessment protocols.

The two attempts within seventeen days created an unprecedented security crisis and contributed to Ford’s image as an unlucky president, though both incidents also demonstrated the effectiveness of Secret Service training and the importance of alert bystanders in preventing presidential assassinations.