In response to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, President Biden emphasized the need for peaceful conflict resolution, calling political violence un-American. GW professor and political historian Matt Dallek would tell you that the attack on Trump is part of a troubling tradition of political violence in the U.S., contradicting the myth of a peaceful political culture.
In his latest op-ed for the New York Times, Dallek delves into how despite multiple historic assassination attempts on U.S. presidents, such violence is notably rare in other major democracies, highlighting a unique and unsettling aspect of American political life.
If you would like more context on this matter, please consider connecting with Dallek. He is a political historian with expertise in the intersection of social crises and political transformation, the evolution of the modern conservative movement, and liberalism and its critics. Along with four co-authored books, Dallek is the author of Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right, which explores the history and influence of America’s right-wing activism. Dallek is currently working on a book about failed presidential assassination attempts and political violence in the 20th century.
If you would like to speak with Dr. Dallek, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at [email protected].
-GW-
RSS