A radical leftist housewife who tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975 has died, closing a dark chapter that exposed how government informants can turn deadly against the very nation they served.
Revolutionary Radicalism Turns Deadly
Sara Jane Moore fired a .38 caliber revolver at President Gerald Ford on September 22, 1975, outside San Francisco’s St. Francis Hotel. The 45-year-old accountant and mother of four missed Ford by inches due to faulty gun sights, with the bullet ricocheting and wounding taxi driver John Ludwig. Moore’s motivation stemmed from radical leftist ideology during Vietnam War disillusionment, aiming to spark a revolution against the U.S. government she once served as an FBI informant.
The irony of Moore’s betrayal runs deep—the Secret Service had evaluated her as “no threat” earlier in 1975, and she had been arrested the day before her attempt for possessing an illegal handgun but was inexplicably released. Her transformation from government informant to would-be assassin exemplifies how radical leftist movements of the 1970s corrupted Americans against their own country, turning patriotic duty into revolutionary violence.
BREAKING: A SECOND ATTEMPTED ASSASSIN HAS HIT THE PRESIDENT!
Sara Jane Moore, a Patty Hearst follower with ties to left wing radical groups, attempts to shoot President Ford as he leaves the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.
She fires two shots with a .38 Special revolver.… pic.twitter.com/rMJcjVI7zE
— 1975 Live (@50YearsAgoLive) September 22, 2025
FBI Informant’s Dangerous Double Life
Moore’s path to radicalization began through her work as an FBI informant infiltrating leftist groups in 1970s San Francisco. She became fixated on the Patty Hearst kidnapping case and the Symbionese Liberation Army, gradually adopting the very revolutionary ideology she was supposed to monitor. This dangerous evolution from patriotic service to anti-American extremism demonstrates the insidious nature of leftist radical movements that could turn even government assets against the Constitution.
The five-time divorcée purchased her weapon hastily on the day of the attempt after her previous gun was confiscated, showing premeditated intent to harm America’s democratically elected leader. Judge Samuel Conti later noted that only the faulty gun sights saved Ford’s life, highlighting how close this radical came to altering American history through political violence—a tactic increasingly embraced by leftist extremists of that era.
Life Behind Bars and Questionable Remorse
Moore pleaded guilty and received a life sentence, serving 32 years before her parole on December 31, 2007. Her post-release interviews revealed troubling mixed feelings about her treasonous act. In 2009, she expressed regret for having “blinders” due to radical politics, admitting she hoped her assassination would trigger a revolution. However, she maintained that her anger was “valid,” showing incomplete rejection of the anti-American sentiment that drove her to violence.
Moore’s death on September 24, 2025, in a Franklin, Tennessee nursing home closes a chapter that should serve as a warning about radical leftist infiltration of American institutions. Her case demonstrates how revolutionary ideology can corrupt even those trusted with national security responsibilities, turning them into domestic threats against constitutional order and democratic governance.
Lessons for Modern Security
The Moore case, alongside Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme’s attempt just 17 days earlier, marked the only two known female presidential assassination attempts in U.S. history. Both emerged from California’s radical subcultures during a period of national disillusionment following Vietnam and Watergate. These incidents led to enhanced Secret Service protocols and serve as historical precedent for understanding how political extremism threatens American leadership and constitutional stability.
Moore’s transformation from suburban housewife to revolutionary assassin reflects the broader danger of leftist radicalization that continues to threaten American values today. Her willingness to commit political violence against a democratically elected president exemplifies the anti-constitutional mindset that patriots must vigilantly guard against, ensuring that government service strengthens rather than undermines our nation’s founding principles and democratic institutions.
Sources:
These Two Female Assassins Independently Tried to Kill Gerald Ford
A Woman Who Tried to Kill the President Tells Her Story