“Against All Odds: The Gripping Tales of 14 Individuals Who Cheated Death in Assassination Attempts”
Here are 14 extraordinary accounts of individuals who survived assassination attempts. Each story is a testament to courage, resilience, and, occasionally, the unexpected twists of fate that shape history.
1. Theodore Roosevelt (1912)
In the heat of a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest by John Schrank, a mentally disturbed man who was convinced Roosevelt’s third-term candidacy violated democratic norms. The bullet passed through a steel eyeglass case and a 50-page speech in his pocket, slowing its impact.
In true Roosevelt fashion, he refused immediate medical attention, delivering a 90-minute speech with the bullet lodged in his chest. He famously began by saying, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.” His survival solidified his larger-than-life persona and remains one of the most iconic moments in U.S. political history.
2. Pope John Paul II (1981)
May 13, 1981, began like any other day in St. Peter’s Square until Mehmet Ali Ağca, a Turkish gunman, fired four bullets at Pope John Paul II, striking him twice in the abdomen and twice in his arm. The attack left the world stunned as the pope clung to life during emergency surgery.
Against all odds, he recovered fully and later met Ağca in prison to forgive him. This act of mercy became a defining moment of his papacy, embodying his unwavering commitment to peace and reconciliation.
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