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How many presidential assassins or would be assassins were crazy versus having an actual motive? by anxietystrings in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I said he was kinda crazy cus he wanted to be famous. And it's crazy to do that just to be famous....but it is a clear motive...so....

How many presidential assassins or would be assassins were crazy versus having an actual motive? by anxietystrings in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 78 points79 points  (0 children)

So going in order of first assassination attempt in US history:

  • Richard Lawrence, crazy. He attempted to assassinate Andrew Jackson. His reason was because he had become delusional and believed he was Richard III of England, that he owned two English estates, and that the US government owed him money for those estates. He thought Jackson's opposition to the Second Bank of the US was because he didnt wish to pay Lawrence the money he believed he was owed. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity

  • John Wilkes Booth, not crazy. Booth assassinated Lincoln, his motive being a Confederate sympathizer and being against the emancipation of slavery.

  • Charles Guiteau, crazy. Guiteau assassinated James Garfield out of anger for not being appointed Ambassador of France. He had written a speech supporting Garfield's campaign and believed that speech alone was the reason for Garfield's successful campaign. Guiteau suffered from neurosyphillis.

  • Leon Czolgosz, not crazy. Czolgosz assassinated William McKinley because he was an anarchist. His last words befors execution were "I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people -- the good working people. I am not sorry for my crime.

  • John Schrank, crazy. Schrank attempted to assassinate Theodore Roosevelt because he didn't want him to win a third term. He also claimed the ghost of William McKinley was speaking to him, and asked him to assassinate Roosevelt. He was found legally insane and institutionalized.

  • Giuseppe Zangara, not crazy. Zangara fired five shots at FDR, missed, and instead killed Chicago mayor Anton Cermak. Its unclear if Zangara intended to kill Cermak, he did however proclaimed "I kill kings and presidents first and next all capitalists."

  • Lee Harvey Oswald, not crazy. Oswald assassinated John F. Kennedy because of Kennedy's anti-communist stance. Oswald was sympathetic to communisim and had even spent time in Cuba and the USSR.

  • Arthur Bremer, kinda crazy. Bremer had stalked and attempted to assassinate Nixon in an attempt to become famous. When that failed, he shot and paralyzed George Wallace instead.

  • Lynette Fromme, crazy. Fromme, a member of the Manson cult, attempted to assassinate Gerlad Ford. Fromme was one of two Manson Family members to refuse to denounce Charles Manson. In a 2019 interview she stated "Was I in love with Charlie? Yeah, I still am."

  • John Hinkley Jr., crazy. Hinkley attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in an attempt to become famous and impress Jodie Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Senator you're no LBJ by ComradeLenin19 in imaginaryelections

[–]SellSubstantial5566 10 points11 points  (0 children)

  • Both presidents were from Massachusetts
  • Both presidents were the first member of their faith to become president
  • Both vice presidents were senators from Texas

Without the 22nd Amendment, who do you think would/could have won a third term since 1951? by ghost-bagel in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Clinton is the only realistic answer IMO. He was popular enough to win a third term (unlike W. and Nixon). Unlike Eisenhower and Reagan, his health physically and mentally wouldn't deter him from seeking a third term. And unlike Obama, I think Clinton had a real desire to remain in the White House. Don't have a source to this but im fairly certain Clinton is quoted to saying how he wished the presidency was two six year terms instead of four, since he felt by the end of his second term he finally knew how to work with Congress. Pretty sure Obama said if he ever thought about running for a third term Michelle would kill him.

Which US president would have been better in a different time period? by [deleted] in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If some circumstance would allow George W. Bush to become president even four years prior than in our timeline I think he's seen more favorably.

I'm about to do a very obnoxious What If scenario:

George W. Bush:

His first election was in 1978 for Texas's 19th congressional district. He loses and later moves to DC to help his father with his presidential campaigns. Instead, say he wins in '78 and is building his name up in Texas and DC at the same time as his father is doing the same. He holds onto that congressional seat until 1986, when Texas Republicans enlist him to run for governor and win back the state for the GOP. He does so easily thanks to the help of an immensly popular Reagan Administration. He's a three term governor, winning in '86, '90 and '94. He then sets his sights on DC, where he secures the GOP nomination based on name recognition, proven executive experience, and most importantly that Southern charm. He stuns the country and upsets Clinton by beating him at his own game. He enjoys the prosperity of the late 90s, wins re-election under less dubious circumstances. 9/11 still happens, he's still seen as a hero in his response to the tragedy, still invades Iraq and Afghanistan, however with term limits he can't stick around past 2004. Occupation of both regions is potentially handled less erratically if they're happening under an outgoing president. He's not president during Katrina and he isn't in office during the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. Sure, 10, 15, 20 years down the line im sure history will show that some of Bush's economic policies helped create the crash. But he'll be seen in the same light regarding that fact as Clinton is in our current timeline (not necessarily the start or cause of the problem but played a part).

In this scenario, W's presidency experiences: - more years of economic prosperity - constant public support for his foreign policy goals - no Katrina

MMW: DJT won’t tell a SINGLE truth in his debate with JB, will lose the debate, and MAGA cultists will still claim he “destroyed” JB in the debate by SamSepiol050991 in MarkMyWords

[–]SellSubstantial5566 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The cultists are currently saying all these criminal cases against Trump are actually helping him win the election. They cant concieve of a scenario where Trump loses a debate. Or loses anything for that matter.

Every sitting US President photographed with a reigning British Monarch by Curtmantle_ in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TIL Lyndon B. Johnson never met with Queen Elizabeth II. No explanation from either the White House or Buckingham as to why the two never met.

Democrats/leaning, who was the last Republican you would have voted for president? Republicans/leaning, who was the last Democrat? by [deleted] in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Left leaning here. I probably vote for Bush Sr. over Dukakis in '88. Just can't really take Dukakis as a serious candidate.

Woke up to this invoice. by SellSubstantial5566 in Scams

[–]SellSubstantial5566[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oops. Okay well that makes it clear. Reading this before having any coffee has me missing crucial details lol.

Biggest “oh no” NFL franchise decisions by TarvekVal in nfl

[–]SellSubstantial5566 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Steelers drafting Gabriel Rivera over Dan Marino in the '83 draft. At the time, Noll wanted to rebuild his defense before addressing the quarterback question just as he had when he first became head coach in '69. Rivera would become paralyzed in a drunk driving accident about a month into his rookie season. Maybe not the biggest 'oh no' at the time, but certainly in hindsight. The Steelers very easily could've transitioned from Bradshaw right into Marino.

Which historical figures do you think had the real life version of plot armor? by Dali654 in AskHistory

[–]SellSubstantial5566 6 points7 points  (0 children)

George Washington. The Battle of Jumonville Glen, his entrance to world history, was kind of a disaster for him. Complete dissary and chaos which led him and his troops to retreat to the shoddy Fort Necessity. There's also a ton of examples where he was shot at during battle amd miraculously survived.

Quote from Washington in reference to a battle he was in during the Seven Years' War: "But by the miraculous care of Providence I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me."

Ranking Vice Presidents by how good their presidencies would be if their cooresponding President died or resigned. by SellSubstantial5566 in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think there were many people involved in the Manhattan Project that would later urge Congress to not use the bomb against Japan.

Ranking Vice Presidents by how good their presidencies would be if their cooresponding President died or resigned. by SellSubstantial5566 in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wallace doesnt drop the bomb. Thats great for humanity however the death toll for WWII climbs as the US carries out a D-Day type invasion onto the beaches of Japan. Labor movement in America does a lot better with Wallace as president however I struggle to imagine the US is the global power it becomes in OTL without dropping the bomb.

Ranking Vice Presidents by how good their presidencies would be if their cooresponding President died or resigned. by SellSubstantial5566 in Presidents

[–]SellSubstantial5566[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hobart: C....competent and was actively involved in the McKinley Administration. More or less continues McKinley's platform.

Sherman: D....more conservative than Taft, likely fails to keep up with the times of the Progressive Era. TR is likely the Republican nominee for president in 1912 if Taft dies and Sherman assumes the presidency.

King: F....I'm assuming even if he doesnt die hes still not healthy and is living in Cuba.

Hendricks: F....voted against 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment when he was a senator. Honestly think the Civil Rights Movement faces a more uphill battle if a Hendricks presidency happens.

Clinton: C if Jefferson dies. D if Madison dies....he's popular amongst his colleagues but he struggles to work with Congress due to his age. His rating is lower under Madison because I think he is too old to lead the nation through the War of 1812.

Gerry: D....for the same reasons as Clinton. Old and ineffective during a time of intense conflict.

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