|
Abstract: Contains files
released by the FBI related to the assassination attempt of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Miami at Bayside Park.
From the Department of Justice Website: "On February 15,
1933, Guiseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate Franklin Delano
Roosevelt while the then President-elect was giving a speech
in Miami, Florida. The United States Secret Service was responsible
for the primary investigation and the FBI's role was mainly
administrative in nature."
Zangara, an Italian anarchist, had lived in New Jersey since
1924, and had only been in Miami for a couple of months. According
to the papers, "he was in Miami because it was warm and
he was out of work, and that he had lost $200 on the dog races."
It is said that he wanted to kill kings and presidents of wealthy
governments since he was 17.
By chance, Zangara heard that FDR would be in Miami to give
a speech. Three days before the shooting, Zangara purchased
a 38 caliber pistol at a Miami Avenue pawn shop. As Roosevelt
finished a short speech at Bayside Park, Zangara fired five
rounds from 25 feet. Roosevelt was completely untouched by the
gunfire due to Zangara losing his footing atop an uneven chair,
and a bystander striking his arm. One bullet struck Chicago's
Mayor Anton Cermak who was shaking hands with Roosevelt at the
time. Four others were wounded, including Mrs. Joseph Gill,
wife of the President of Florida Power and Light.
An example of swift justice, Zangara pled guilty five days
later and was sentenced to 80 years in Raiford Prison. At his
sentencing he said of the President-elect, "I decide to
kill him and make him suffer. I want to make it 50-50. Since
my stomach hurt I want to make even with capitalists by kill
the President. My stomach hurt long time."
Anton Cermak subsequently died from his wounds two weeks later,
and Zangara was immediately tried for his murder. Zangara was
sentenced to the electric chair and executed on March 20 at
Raiford. Unrepentent, Zangara was cursing and railing against
capitalists as he was put to death.
Although Zangara said he acted alone, some evidence and theories
link him with organized groups responsible for additional terrorist
acts. Others claim that Zangara's true target was Mayor Cermak,
who had alleged ties with organized crime.
|
