Assassinations carried out against American politicians occurred as early as the 19th century, the earliest of which is believed to have been carried out against David Ramsay in 1815. Since then, several American politicians have been assassinated while being elected or appointed to office, or were candidates for public office. Out of these, four were president of the United States, the earliest of which being Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and the most recent being John F. Kennedy in 1963.

This list includes politicians who ran for or were appointed to political office, whose deaths are described as "assassination" in reliable sources. Deaths resulting from duels or private disputes are not included.

Federal offices Presidents of the United States +PoliticianPortraitPartyYearLocationAssassinMotiveRef Abraham LincolnRepublicanFord's Theatre, Washington, D.C.John Wilkes BoothRevenge for the defeat of the Confederate States of America Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's Theatre five days after the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in the American Civil War. Booth, a well-known actor and a Confederate sympathizer, was allowed into the president's box where he waited at the back until the audience laughed, hoping it would mask the sound of his gun. He shot Lincoln in the back of the head with a pistol. He then drew a knife and slashed at Major Henry Rathbone. Booth leapt from the box onto the stage where he broke his leg, shouted "sic semper tyrannis", and then fled to his horse. An unsuccessful attack on Secretary of State William H. Seward took place simultaneously. Lincoln was taken to a boarding house across the street where he died nine hours later. Booth was found by soldiers on April 26. Wielding a gun and refusing to surrender, Booth was shot and killed by Sergeant Boston Corbett. Eight co-conspirators were tried for Lincoln's assassination and found guilty by a military commission, four of whom were executed by hanging on July 7, 1865. James A. GarfieldRepublicanWashington, D.C.Charles J. GuiteauRetribution for perceived failure to reward campaign support Garfield arrived at a railroad station on a visit to his ill wife Lucretia Garfield. Guiteau approached Garfield from behind and shot him two times with a pistol. Several doctors arrived to treat the wound, but their actions worsened and contaminated it. Garfield was brought to the White House to receive further treatment, remaining in critical condition and developing sepsis over the following weeks as doctors kept exacerbating the wound. He was brought to Elberon, New Jersey, in September to escape Washington's warm climate. He died from his wound days later. Guiteau was hanged on June 30, 1882. William McKinleyRepublicanPan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New YorkLeon CzolgoszTo advance anarchism McKinley was shaking hands with visitors at the Pan-American Exposition when he was approached by Czolgosz. Czolgosz's hand was bandaged, under which he concealed a revolver. He shot McKinley twice before he was apprehended by guards and members of the crowd. McKinley was brought into surgery at the exposition's medical facility and partially recovered while staying at the home of John G. Milburn. His condition then declined and he developed gangrene. McKinley died eight days after he was shot. Czolgosz confessed to the killing and said that it was his "duty". He was executed by electric chair on October 29, 1901. John F. KennedyDemocraticNovember 22, 1963Dallas, TexasLee Harvey OswaldUnknown Kennedy was riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, when Oswald set up a sniper's nest on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Kennedy was in an open convertible, and Oswald fired at Kennedy three times with a rifle. The third shot struck Kennedy's skull, releasing brain matter from his head. He was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead half an hour later. Oswald fled from the scene and killed Officer J. D. Tippit with a revolver when he was approached as a potential suspect. Police apprehended Oswald 1 hour and 40 minutes after the assassination. As Oswald was being escorted through the police department two days later, businessman Jack Ruby approached Oswald and shot him on live television. Oswald died two hours later. Kennedy's assassination was one of the most defining events of the 20th century in the United States, and numerous conspiracy theories and conflicting eyewitness accounts have presented alternate explanations of how and why Kennedy was killed.

Members of the United States Congress

+PoliticianPortraitPartyDateOfficeLocationAssassinMotiveRefRobert PotterDemocraticMarch 2, 1842Former U.S. representative from North Carolina's 6th districtHarrison County, Republic of TexasWilliam Pinckney Rose and a group of RegulatorsPotter's role as a ModeratorPotter participated in the Regulator–Moderator War as a leader of the Harrison County Moderators. Potter's home was surrounded by a group of Regulators led by William Pinckney Rose, causing him to flee and dive into a nearby lake. The Regulators shot and killed him after he jumped in. Josiah M. AndersonWhigNovember 8, 1861Former U.S. representative from Tennessee's 3rd districtBledsoe County, TennesseeUnknown UnionistsHaving made a secession speech Delegate to the 1861 peace convention in Washington, D.C. Stabbed to death after giving a speech in favor of secession. Thomas C. HindmanDemocraticFormer U.S. representative from Arkansas's 1st district Helena, ArkansasUnknown assailantsDisputed motive Hindman was in his sitting room with his family when a man shot him with a musket through the open window. The Republican Party was accused of assassinating him, but its members suggested non-political motives for the killing. James M. HindsRepublicanOctober 22, 1868U.S. representative from Arkansas's 2nd districtMonroe County, ArkansasGeorge W. ClarkHinds' support for Reconstruction policies Hinds was shot alongside Reverend James Brooks while they were campaigning for Ulysses S. Grant in the heavily-Democratic Monroe County. Clark caught up to the men on horseback shortly after giving them directions, shooting both men with a shotgun before fleeing. Brooks rode to town for help with minor injuries while Hinds laid mortally wounded. Hinds was taken to a doctor but died shortly after. Clark was not prosecuted for the killing. Thomas HaugheyRepublicanFormer U.S. representative from Alabama's 6th districtCourtland, AlabamaCollins (first name unknown)Assassin supported Haughey's opponent Haughey was campaigning for reelection at a courthouse. He got in an argument and then a fistfight with Collins, a supporter of his opponent, who then shot Haughey with a revolver. Haughey died five days later. Collins was broken out of jail and never found. José Francisco ChavesRepublicanNovember 26, 1904Former Congressional delegate from the New Mexico Territory's at-large districtPinos Wells, New MexicoUnknown assailantUnknown motive Chaves was dining at a friend's home when a man shot at him through a window. John M. PinckneyDemocraticApril 24, 1905U.S. representative from Texas's 8th districtHempstead, TexasJ. N. BrownPinckney's support for Prohibitionism Pinckney was speaking during a Prohibition League event when a protestor, J. N. Brown, fired his pistol at the prohibitionists. A 30-second gunfight broke out between the groups. Pinckney died trying to stop the fight and his brother died trying to pull him back. Brown and Prohibition League leader John Mills were also killed. Brown's son was also shooting, and he was charged as an accomplice but acquitted. Huey LongDemocraticBaton Rouge, LouisianaCarl WeissDisputed motive Long was an influential but polarizing figure in American politics, and previous assassination attempts caused him to hire bodyguards. While at the Louisiana State Capitol to give his thoughts on state legislation, Weiss approached him and shot him with a FN Model 1910. Bodyguards tackled Weiss and then returned fire, killing him. Long underwent surgery and died of internal bleeding early the next morning. Many details of the killing are unknown, so various theories and alternate sequences of events have been proposed, including some that say Weiss was not the killer. Robert F. KennedyDemocraticLos Angeles, CaliforniaSirhan SirhanRevenge for Kennedy's support for Israel during the Six-Day War Kennedy was staying at the Ambassador Hotel while campaigning for president. While cutting through the kitchen to reach his room after a speech, Sirhan Sirhan fired eight shots from a pistol, hitting Kennedy in the head. Kennedy was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital where he died 26 hours later. Congress passed a law granting Secret Service protection to major presidential contenders. Sirhan was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to life in prison after California abolished capital punishment. Leo RyanDemocraticNovember 18, 1978U.S. representative from California's 11th districtPort Kaituma, GuyanaMembers of the People's TempleRyan's investigation of Jonestown Ryan went to Guyana to investigate allegations of abuse in the Jonestown settlement of the Peoples Temple movement, and he examined the facility. He learned that several members wanted to leave and brought them to the airport as he left. Members of the Peoples Temple ambushed his delegation before he boarded, killing Ryan and four others. Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones had all of his followers commit mass suicide the same day. The ambush's leader Larry Layton was acquitted in Guyana but extradited and found guilty in the U.S. Allard K. LowensteinDemocraticMarch 14, 1980Former U.S. representative from New York's 5th district New York City, New YorkDennis SweeneySchizophrenia-induced belief that Lowenstein was the leader of an international Jewish conspiracy Sweeney was a student and political ally of Lowenstein. Believing that Lowenstein led a conspiracy targeting him, Sweeney entered Lowenstein's office and shot him with a pistol. Sweeney then waited in the office for the police to arrest him. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Federal judges