“Murder by sudden or secret attack, often for political reasons.” This class will examine assassinations and assassination attempts, some of which dramatically altered the course of history. At the U.S. presidential level, we’ll trace targeted attacks from Andrew Jackson to Donald Trump. Beyond presidents, we’ll explore the killings of political figures sparked by motives ranging from anger, coups, glory, and ransom to organized crime—and even one assassin who claimed his mission was to keep redwood trees from falling over. Through it all, we’ll consider the motivations, circumstances, and lasting outcomes of these violent acts.