Sara Jane Moore, known for her attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford in 1975, died this week at the age of 95 in a nursing home in Franklin, Tennessee. Moore was a mother of four who had been involved with radical movements on the political left. On September 22, 1975, she fired two shots at President Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.
According to The New York Times, Demetria Kalodimos, a reporter for The Nashville Banner and friend of Moore’s, confirmed her death. The incident occurred just over two weeks after another assassination attempt on Ford by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson.
At the time of the shooting in San Francisco, about 3,000 people were present near Union Square as President Ford exited the hotel. Moore stood across the street and fired a .38-caliber revolver at him from approximately 40 to 50 feet away. She missed with her first shot and attempted to fire again but was stopped by Oliver W. Sipple, a former Marine who deflected her arm as she pulled the trigger. The second bullet ricocheted off a wall and grazed a bystander.
Secret Service agents quickly escorted President Ford to safety while police officers apprehended Moore at the scene. She was tried and sentenced to life in prison but was later released on parole after serving several years.
In an interview with CNN ten years ago, Moore discussed her motivations for attempting to assassinate President Ford.
Moore’s actions remain one of two attempts on President Ford’s life within less than three weeks during his term.
