Assassinations ‘13

Type IV

Type 4RecapRecap:

1) Unable to understand their actions (mentally insane)

2) Unable to apply political motivations to actions

3) Unable to understand how others would view their actions

I) How toA) Analyze1) Who Assassin is2) Who (tried to) Assassinate3) Apply the text’s motivation (i.e. type)4) Apply the text’s explanation5) Apply the zeitgeist

a) Historical Facts & Motivationb) Historical Outcome

Assassin #1 Type 4I) How to

A) Analyze1) Who Assassin is

Richard Lawrence2) Who (tried to)Assassinate

Andrew Jackson--1st attempt on a US Pres—

3) Apply the text’s motivation(i.e. type): Type 4

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation

a) Unable to understand &mentally insane-delusions started well in advance

of attempt- (pg 196)

-King Richard III illusions-Clothing attire-Pleasant personality shifted to a

rude, hostile (violent) &suspicious personality

1483-1485

5) Apply the zeitgeist a) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

a) Unable to understand & mentally insane (cont)-from moral persona to an

immoral one-family history of insanity

5) Apply the zeitgeist (cont)a) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)-Lawrence attempted to kill Jackson as he left the funeral of a US Congressmen

-2 guns misfired-powder wet or fell out—

unknown which is correct

-Jackson’s aides, includingUS Congressmen Davy Crocket, subdued

him and prevented Jackson from severing hurting him w/ his cane.

Apply the zeitgeist (cont)Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

b) Unable to apply political motivations to actions:--Lawrence view: Jackson’s Opposition to Nat’l Bank

was‘thwarting’ Lawrence’s money (pg 196)

--Lawrence did not attribute hisact (assassinate) to politics of Jackson(i.e.—if Jackson dead=change in policy-NOT how Lawrence sees it)

5) Apply the zeitgeist a) Historical Facts & Motivation(cont)b) Not political (cont)Jackson opposed Nat’l Bank because:1) Favored the elites—monied men2) Favored the NE at the expense of S & W3) To much power in 1 institution4) Dislike to Bank Pres-

Nicholas Biddle5)Blamed bank for 1819 Recession& inability to pay his debts

The bank is trying to kill me, but I will kill it.Pres Jackson to VP Van Buren

5) Apply the zeitgeist (cont)a) Historical Facts & Motivation(cont)

Jackson’s response:• Veto its (early) re-charter in 1832• Withdrew all nat’l money 1833 (biggest depositor of

bank)-fire two of his Secr of Treasury to do so-

Bank(Biddle)’s Response:• Call back all loans• Force recession & renewal of Charter in 1834

Jackson weathers the storm &Bank expires in 1836

5) Apply the zeitgeistb) Historical Outcome

-Lawrence found not guilty by reason of insanity

-Lawrence spends rest of life in mental hospitals including the Gov’t Hospital of the Insane( later named St Elizabeth) which would later house another Pres assassin--

John Hinckley, Jr ( Ronald Reagan)

5) Apply the zeitgeistb) Historical Outcome (cont)

c) Unable to understand how others viewedhis actions

Lawrence thought himself as agent of God not an agent of political change

5) Apply the zeitgeist b) Historical Outcome (cont)

Result of death of Nat’l Bank:1) Increase in local/state banks2) Nat’l funds used for internal improvements3) Rapid Inflation4) Jackson turned to Specie Circular-requirement of buyers to have gold/silver to back up

paper money-5) State & Local banks collapse6) Panic 1837 and resulting depression

5) Apply the zeitgeist (cont)a) Historical Outcome(cont)

Result of death of Nat’l Bank (cont):7) US Senate censured Jackson in 1834(only Pres to be censured in US History)Censure:A public reprimand by the US Congress8) Congressional record expunged by later democratic

controlled US Senate9) Jackson seen as champion of masses over elite and

wins re-election in 1832

5) Apply the zeitgeistb)Historical Outcome(cont)

& Alternative Theory--Jackson was convincedassassination was a conspiracyby his political enemies(pg195)

-US Senator John Calhoun, Jackson’s previous VP, felt compelled to declare on the US Senate floor, that he had nothing to do w/ attempt

-two men had falling out over the NullificationCrisis of 1832

b)Historical Outcome & Alternative Theory (cont)-Nullification Crisis-Tariff of 1832 kept most of the protectionist measures

in place-Protectionism vs Free Trade-Protectionism—the practice of developing domestic

industries by protecting them from foreign competition through duties or quotas imposed on importations

--Free Trade —trade between countries, free from governmental restrictions or duties

b)Historical Outcome & Alternative TheoryNullification Crisis (cont)-Jackson proclaimed that SC was on “the brink of

insurrection & treason” and denied the right of a state to succeed from Union

-Jackson gets the Force Act passed to use military force against SC if not back down

-SC does (and Congress passes a more reduced tariff bill)

-Crisis over but so is Calhoun & Jacksons political allegiance

b)Historical Outcome & Alternative Theory (cont)-Jackson personally thought it wasUS Senator GeorgePoindexter (D/NR-MS)He had hired Lawrence forhouse painting few months priorto attempt.After the attack, Jackson singled outPoindexter who was one of his strongest criticResult: Congressional Investigation

The two witness against “Old Poins” fell apartunder cross examination.

In end, lack of evidence=lack of Congressional action but, he couldn’t convince Missippians that he had nothing to do w/ it & was not re-elected later that year

b)Historical Outcome & Alternative Theory (cont)-Some of the Anti-Jackson people (including “old

Poins”) & press began to suspect that Jackson & his allies hired Lawrence

-They argued the attempt was done by Jackson to keep his popularity high & help his side win in the ‘Bank Wars’

-They pointed out the odds of 2 pistols not firing were slim especially when they tested fine after the attack

b)Historical Outcome & Alternative Theory (cont)-Conspiracies eventually evolved to political innuendo

but it did help create theWhig Party-Whig Party was formulated as the basis to oppose

“King Andrew the First”-The name, Whig, derives from 1) Great Britain’s

parliamentary opposition to the British monarchy and 2) the American rebels against the Crown during the Am Revolution

5) Apply the zeitgeist b) Historical Outcome --Hypothetical:-Dead Jackson could have lead to the 2nd Nat’l Bank

being renewed under VP Van Buren-SC & ‘nullifers’ revenged

-remember Lawrencetried to kill him w/o thinking of these possibleoutcomes

Hence why he is Type 4

Assassin #2 Type 4I) How to

A) Analyze1) Who Assassin is

Charles Guiteau2) Who (tried to) Assassinate

Pres James GarfieldPres Garfield

beingsupportedby Secr of

State Blaineafter theshooting.Guiteau in

background

3)Apply the text’s motivation (i.e. type)-Type 44) Apply the text’s explanation

a) Unable to understand theiractions--Mentally Insane

b) Unable to apply politicalmotivations to actions

c) Unable to understand how others would view their actions

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation

a) Unable to understand theiractions--Mentally Insane

-Guiteau was mentally insane-delusions started well in advance

of attempt--long family history of insanity

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

-Guiteau himself rejected insanity plea as presented in court. He argued:-1) God’s will

-God planned it & used Guiteau as instrument and thus, he was insane only in so far as he was an instrument used by God

-Guiteau himself rejected insanity plea as presented in court. He argued:2) Physician Malpractice (not Guiteau) which killed the Prez

-1st bullet grazed arm-2nd bullet lodged near lung (?)

-doctors probed for it using unsterilized equipment & fingers -Bell & his "induction balance"

machine (metal detector) tried to locate it

-failed-foiled by coils in mattress

-Guiteau himself rejected insanity plea as presented in court. He argued:-3) Wrong Jurisdiction

-shot in DC railroad stationbut moved to NJ to helpin his recuperation-he died 2 months later in NJ

-Guiteau believed iftried in NJ he would beacquitted

Railroad stationtile on whichGarfield fell

5) Apply the zeitgeist a) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

c) Unable to understand how others would view their actions

-Guiteau thought he-would be revered by nation for

-unifying it after the death of unscrupulous leader (Garfield)

-unifying the Republican partyfrom in-fighting

Why?

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

Why?-Garfield not back the Stalwart faction, sufficiently for them, and thus, turned his back on those who helped get him elected Pres in 1st place-Garfield did appointed a Stalwart, Thomas James, as Postmaster General-Stalwarts wanted a more important job-Secr of Treasury

Result: 2 US Senators from NY stateRoscoe Conkling & Tom Platt-leaders of the Stalwart wing of

the Republican party-applied Senatorial Courtesy to a Garfield appt Wm Robertson

to be Customs Collector of Port of NYSenatorial Courtesy —the practice of confirming only those

presidential appointees approved by both senators from the state of the appointee -Not work-Resigned their US Senate seats in protest but were not re-appointed by NY state legislature

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)Thus, when Guiteau shoots Garfield he yells “ I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts!..Arthur is President now!”

-The Stalwart faction of the Republican party opposed Civil Service reform and wanted Political Patronage to continue

Patronage-the distribution of jobs on a political basis to those who have supported one's party or political campaign.

-The opposition to the Stalwart faction was called ‘Half Breeds’ and they wanted Civil Service Reform

5) Apply the zeitgeist a) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

b) Unable to apply political motivations to actions

-Remember Guiteau killed Garfield w/o looking for an alternative political result-He saw himself in the same suffering association as the Stalwarts only (i.e. they didn’t get their guys into jobs & Guiteau didn’t get his appointment either)

5) Apply the zeitgeistb) Historical Outcome

-Stalwarts were representedby VP Chet Arthur (former Collector of Customs from NY & he

was fired for graft & bribery) -Arthur replaced Half Breeds w/ Stalwarts in his cabinet

(including the coveted Secr of Treasury)-But he continued Garfield Civil Service Reform and got the

Pendleton Civil Service ReformAct passed

Pres Hayeskicking out

Arthur

1879-85(D-OH)

5) Apply the zeitgeist b) Historical Outcome (cont)Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act--Established Merit system for govt jobs via passing exams-Helped w/ creation of the US Civil Service Commission

-A later commissioner includedTeddy Roosevelt (1889-96)

-Prevents solicitation of donations on Federal Property-Causes the party to rely on donations by businesses rather

than patronage hopefuls

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Outcomes & Alternative Theories

-Most obviously the initial conspiracyrallied around

-the Stalwarts lead byConkling to elevate Arthur to the Presidency

-Remember Guiteau killed Garfield w/o looking for an alternative political result-He saw himself in the same suffering association as the Stalwarts only (i.e. they didn’t get their guys into jobs & Guiteau didn’t get his appointment either)-His Godly-ordained beliefs, & unable to fully understand his actions & how others viewed his acts, further helps keep him in Type 4.

Assassin #3 Type 4I) How to

A) Analyze1) Who Assassin is

John Schrank 2) Who (tried to) Assassinate

former republican Pres & current Pres candidate, for

Bull Moose Party,Teddy Roosevelt

3)Apply the text’s motivation(i.e. type)-Type 44) Apply the text’s explanation

a) Unable to understand their actions1) Mentally Insane

a) Unable to understand rightfrom wrong

b) Unable to apply political motivations to actionsc) Unable to understand how others viewed

his actions

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation

-TR took over when Pres Wm McKinley was assassinated in 1901

a) Unable to understand their actions1) Mentally Insane

-Schrank had vision that McKinley claimed it was Roosevelt (pg 218) who murdered him-Following death of foster parents (aunt & uncle) triggered more delusions & increasing periods of isolationism

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

Mentally Insane1) Supposed love affairs2) Two visits by McKinley’s Ghost3) Claimed he was an agent of God

like Joan of Arc4) Family history of insanity

presented at trial

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

-Schrank trailed TR until he got a shot off at him as he exited his hotel on his way to a speech in Milwaukee

-Luckily for TR, his 50 page speech & spectacle case prevented serious physical harm

Bullet in TR’sribcage

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

b) Not politically motivated:-Schrank upset over TR because he violatedSome of Schrank’s—‘4 Pillars of Our Republic’ . TR violated:1) No 3rd terms=dictatorship2) Avoiding war of conquestsTR was ok w/:3) Upholding Monroe Doctrine4) No Catholic presidents

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

Note: He was also upset when TR, as NYC Police Commissioner enforced the ‘Blue Laws’

Blue Laws: prohibit certain businesses from opening on Sunday

or from selling certain items on that day. Blue laws often apply to bars and to alcohol sales.

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Facts & Motivation (cont)

c) Unable to understand how others viewed his actions

-Schrank even wanted pistol & bullet on display at NY Historical Museum as he claimed he would be a hero

-Became upset when doctors where not going to remove it from TR claiming that the ‘bullet was his(Schrank)’

5) Apply the zeitgeista) Historical Outcome

-Schrank was found insane and spent rest of life at a govt facility where he, ironically, died on the anniversary of his McKinley visions

-1912 Election-Republicanssplit their votes btw

(I) Taft (R)TR (BM) {and former Republican}

And thus, elected onlythe 2nd Democratsince the US Civil WarWoodrow Wilson