Not Just Julius Caesar: March 15 and the 'Day of Betrayal' That Changed American History

"I'll Kill Him Myself!" -- The Day a President Beat His Assassin with a Cane

When you think of March 15, many of you probably recall "Beware the Ides of March!" -- the day Julius Caesar was assassinated. But on that same date in 1835, a chilling assassination attempt took place in America. Except the ending was completely different. The president charged at his would-be assassin with a cane, in what has become the stuff of legend.

The Man of Fire: Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was the 7th President of the United States, known by the nickname "Old Hickory." Hickory is one of the hardest woods in America, and his character matched the name perfectly. Born into a poor Scots-Irish immigrant family, Jackson was captured as a prisoner during the Revolutionary War at age fourteen. When a British officer ordered him to polish his boots, young Jackson defiantly refused and was slashed with a sword.

Even after becoming president, he remained at the center of controversy. He opposed the establishment of a strong central bank and effectively dismantled the Second Bank of the United States, while pushing through the Indian Removal Act. To his supporters, he was "the people's president"; to his opponents, a "dictator."

The First-Ever Presidential Assassination Attempt

On January 30, 1835 (the exact date is January 30, though the investigation and its repercussions extended into March), outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., a man named Richard Lawrence pointed a pistol at President Jackson. Lawrence was mentally ill, believing himself to be the reincarnation of King Richard III of England and that Jackson owed him money.

He pulled the trigger. Misfire.

Lawrence drew a second prepared pistol and aimed again. Another misfire.

At that moment, the 67-year-old President Jackson, rather than fleeing in terror, grabbed his cane and charged at Lawrence. Had the bodyguards not restrained him, the president might have personally dispatched his would-be assassin.

Later investigation revealed that both pistols were in working condition, and the statistical probability of both misfiring was 1 in 125,000. Jackson himself was convinced it was a conspiracy orchestrated by his political enemies and never abandoned that belief.

What This Event Left Behind

Lawrence was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to a mental institution. While this incident made Americans realize the need for presidential security, a proper protection system was not established until after Lincoln's assassination in 1865. Jackson completed his term and left office in 1837. Today his face appears on the $20 bill (though replacement with Harriet Tubman is currently under discussion).

This History on Screen

The PBS documentary Andrew Jackson: Good Evil and the Presidency (2006) covers Jackson's entire life and dramatically recreates this assassination attempt. It is largely faithful to historical fact, though some have noted that critical perspectives on Jackson's Native American policies are somewhat restrained. American Lion, a documentary based on Jon Meacham's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, also offers a fascinating look at Jackson's complex human nature. Hero or villain -- the debate surrounding Jackson remains heated even 200 years later.

History Is Sometimes Stronger Than Bullets

On the day when both guns misfired, Jackson survived. And history remembers him as a portrait on currency, and as an icon of debate. Bullets could not stop him, but history's judgment is still in progress. This March 15, on Caesar's day, why not reflect on Jackson's story?