Sara Jane Moore. The name might not be instantly recognizable, but her actions nearly changed American history. On September 22, 1975, just weeks after Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme's assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford, Moore attempted the same in San Francisco.
A troubled life marked by multiple marriages and a stint as an FBI informant led Moore down a path of radicalization. She'd become involved with leftist groups, and her mental state appeared increasingly unstable. Armed with a .38 caliber revolver, she fired two shots at President Ford as he left the St. Francis Hotel. Fortunately, a bystander, Oliver Sipple, deflected her aim, saving the President's life.
Moore was immediately apprehended and ultimately sentenced to life in prison. She was paroled in 2007 after serving over three decades. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of safety and the complex motivations behind acts of political violence, solidifying her as a figure of dark fascination in American history.
