Quote Originally Posted by DocFrance
Well, we haven't had any big presidential assassination attempts in over twenty years, and we haven't had a successful one in over forty. I think our security is working pretty well. Either that, or there hasn't been a whole lot of lone gunmen on grassy knolls or psychopathic Jodie Foster stalkers lately.
Technically, September 11 2001 and that nitwit in the Cessna who was after Clinton were both presidential assasination attempts. However, as you say, security, preparation and circumstance combined to protect the president's life in both cases.

We've gotta take steps to protect our leaders, but that needs to be balanced against the risk of turning the powers-that-be into cloistered, unseen figures who just show up on TV now and then.