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As the twentieth century progressed, the nature of the threat became even more unpredictable. Gerald Ford’s experience in 1975 stands out as a historical anomaly. Within the span of just seventeen days, he survived two separate assassination attempts, both carried out by women. The first, a follower of the Manson cult, failed only because she had not chambered a round in her pistol. The second was thwarted by a bystander, Oliver Sipple, who deflected the shooter’s aim at the crucial moment. These incidents underscored that the danger could come from anywhere, often without warning or clear political logic.
