GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Dr. Mirelle Luecke, a historian and curator at the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library and Museum, described to 13 ON YOUR SIDE the public's opinion following the days after former President Ford survived two assassination attempts.
"I think one of the really interesting impacts was, as you can imagine, the American public was quite interested in and shaken up by these assassination attempts," said Dr. Luecke. "So in the course of September, following the two attempts, he receives over 6,500 messages from the American public. A lot of them are things like, we're glad you're okay, and things like that, really expressing their sympathy and concern."
The first, Sept. 5, 1975, in Sacramento, California.
"In his memoir, he recalled seeing a woman in red kind of walking up to him, and then he saw a gun, and the Secret Service also saw the gun, and Secret Service agent Larry Buendorf managed to get between Ford and the would be assassin Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme," said Dr. Luecke. "Squeaky Fromme was a member of the Manson family, so she kind of is an interesting case, and she and another member of the Manson family had sworn that they were going to kill any corporate or elected pollutant polluters of the environment."
The Second, Sept. 22, 1975 in San Francisco, California.
"He exited his hotel and goes directly to the limousine, rather than walking, as he had done earlier in the month, but at that time, a shot rang out, and it was attempted assassin, Sarah Jane Moore, who was shooting at him," said Dr. Luecke. "A bystander actually heard the shots and managed to grab Sarah Jane Moore's arm. This was Oliver Sipple, and he managed to thwart that assassination attempt."
Both attempts on Ford's life have a dedicated exhibit on the top floor of the museum. The gun used in the first attempt, and the bulletproof trench coat he wore following the second, are both on display.
"He recalls that he didn't really like wearing it," said Dr. Luecke. "It was heavy and hot. It weighed over six pounds. But he really felt obligated to the American people to wear that jacket."
Dr. Luecke explains Ford wanted to focus on connecting with people, even after two brushes with death.
"He also tells reporters at the time, quote, 'I don't think any person as president ought to cower in the face of a limited number of people who want to take the law into their own hands. The American people want a dialog between them and their president and the other public officials. And if we can't have that opportunity of talking with each other, seeing one another shaking hands with one another, something has gone terribly wrong in our society,'" said Dr. Luecke quoting President Ford.
The museum will soon debut a new and temporary exhibit called "Ford at 50", celebrating 50 years after Ford's presidency, opening on Aug. 9th.