Arthur Bremer
Encyclopedia
Arthur Herman Bremer is an American
convicted for an assassination attempt on U.S.
Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace
on May 15, 1972 in Laurel
, Maryland
, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Bremer was found guilty and sentenced to 63 years (53 years after an appeal) in a Maryland prison for the shooting of Wallace and three bystanders.
After 35 years of incarceration, Bremer was released from prison on November 9, 2007.
At school, Bremer did well in English and history and displayed a talent for writing, although his grades were generally low. He scored 106 on an IQ test in high school, and 114 on a test he took after his failed assassination attempt.
School was an ordeal for Bremer because he did not make friends and was either bullied or simply ignored by other students. Bremer had written in his diary that "No English or history test was ever as hard, no math final exam ever as difficult as waiting in a school lunch line alone, waiting to eat alone ... while hundreds huddled & gossiped and roared, & laughed and stared at me ..." and "No one ever noticed me nor took interest in me as an individual with the need to receive or give love. In junior high school, I was an object of pure ridicule for my dress, withdrawal, and asocial manner. Dozens of times, I saw individuals laugh and smile more in ten to fifteen minutes than I did in all my life up to then."
His first grade
teacher wrote that it was a pleasure to have Bremer in class, but when he was in the third grade
another teacher wrote that "Arthur has adjusted well in class but hasn't made an effort as of yet to play with the other children at recess." He was remembered for awkward laughter and not being able to engage in small talk with others. Bremer attended South Division High School
, where he briefly starred on the school's football team.
During adolescence
, Bremer was not rebellious and did not attract concern despite his emotional problems, which were overlooked because they did not involve transgressions on which authorities usually focus. Despite his problems, he graduated from high school on January 28, 1969.
where he studied aerial photography, art, writing and psychology. He dropped out after just one semester in college, where he was recalled as a "strange, aloof and argumentative" student who "rarely talked to anybody."
Bremer got a job as a busboy at the Milwaukee Athletic Club in 1969. Although his employer said he was a "very hard and dependable worker who kept himself to himself", in 1971, Bremer was demoted to kitchen work after customers complained that he talked to himself, and that "he whistled and marched in tune with music played in the dining room". Angered by his demotion, he complained to the program planner for the Milwaukee Commission on Community Relations. The complaint was investigated and dismissed. The planner wrote on November 8, "Mr Bremer is a young man who is rather withdrawn. Appears to bottle up anger but will sometimes let it go. I assess him bordering on paranoid whilst at the same time, conscientious in doing his job at the Athletic club." After this, Bremer quit his job at the Athletic club.
Bremer got a part-time job working as a janitor at Story Elementary School from September 1, 1970. He lasted almost 18 months, until he quit in February 1972.
On May 22, 1971, his one known friend, Thomas Neuman, committed suicide after playing Russian Roulette.
On October 16, 1971, Bremer moved out of his parents' house after he fell out with them and moved into a three-room apartment at 2433 West Michigan Street, near Marquette University
, where he lived until a week before the assassination attempt. Those who lived in the same block said that Bremer was usually alone, with rarely any visitors.
On November 18, 1971, Bremer landed his first arrest for carrying a concealed weapon and for parking in a no-parking zone. A court-appointed psychiatrist declared Bremer mentally ill but sane
. Bremer underwent psychotherapy
, and was released on a $38.50 fine on December 8, after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Despite this, on January 13, 1972, Bremer went into the Casanova Gun Shop at 1601 West Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and for $90 bought a snub-nosed Charter Arms
Undercover .38-calibre revolver.
at South Division High School. Bremer, who had never had a girlfriend before, asked Pemrich out and she accepted. Their first date went well. They went to a museum, walked around Lake Michigan
beach area and then went to a restaurant. However, after this promising start, the relationship went downhill. Bremer displayed pornographic pictures to Pemrich and made graphic sex talk. He said he could help Pemrich with her hang-ups as he claimed to know a lot about psychology. When Bremer was introduced to Pemrich's cousin, he made remarks about the girl's "big ass and boobs."
Bremer's inappropriate behavior also showed itself at a Blood, Sweat and Tears concert. He kissed a woman not in his group while waiting to get into the concert. The woman promptly reported his action to a police officer who let Bremer off with a warning. During the concert, Bremer attempted to impress Pemrich and her friends by dramatically dancing in his seat. He then applauded the group when no one else was doing so, and swayed back and forth during the concert. After the concert, Bremer excitedly whispered to Pemrich that he was so sexually aroused he could hardly walk.
Pemrich ended the relationship during the first days of 1972, because Bremer acted "goofy" and "weird." Bremer could not overcome this rejection, which resulted in his constantly calling her, stalking her, and on January 14, 1972, shaving his head, saying to her that "you make me feel as empty as my head." Joan's mother then threatened to call the police if Bremer continued to pester her.
After Bremer's arrest, Joan Pemrich expressed surprise at Bremer's actions, because she said he was not violent and never mentioned or talked about Wallace or politics during their time together.
with the words, "It is my personal plan to assassinate by pistol either Richard Nixon or George Wallace. I intend to shoot one or the other while he attends a campaign rally for the Wisconsin Primary." Bremer's purpose was "to do SOMETHING BOLD AND DRAMATIC, FORCEFUL & DYNAMIC, A STATEMENT of my manhood for the world to see." The following evening, Bremer attended an organizational meeting for Wallace at The Pfister Hotel
in Milwaukee.
Although Bremer's main aim was to assassinate then-President
Richard Nixon, on March 23, Bremer attended a Wallace dinner and rally at Milwaukee's Red Carpet Airport Inn. During the next two months, Bremer would trail Wallace, across the USA, travelling by car, plane, ferry and bus.
On April 4, Bremer attended a Wallace victory rally at the ballroom of the Holiday Inn, Milwaukee. Two days later, he flew to New York
to visit a massage parlor in the hope of losing his virginity
and stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
. On April 8, while preparing for a trip to Ottawa
, he put one of his guns, a Browning
9mm, under a mat in the trunk of his car, but it went down so deeply into the right wheel well that he could not get it back out again. It was removed a week after Bremer's arrest when the car was dismantled.
On April 11, Bremer travelled to Ottawa
and stayed at the Lord Elgin Hotel. Two days later, Bremer, dressed in a business suit, wearing sunglasses and with a revolver in his pocket, hoped to assassinate Nixon but security was tight because of the presence of anti-Vietnam War
protesters and Québécois nationalists. Ottawa police officers guarded the motorcade's path, making it impossible for anyone to get close to Nixon. Bremer was also unsure whether any bullets would go through the glass of Nixon's limousine. As a result, he did not open fire and the motorcade sped past unharmed. Bremer left Canada, staying at the Sheraton
Motor Inn in New Carrollton, Maryland
for three days. After this he returned to Milwaukee, where he spent the following two weeks. On April 24, he wrote in his diary, "I'm as important as the start of WWI. I just need the little opening and a second of time."
by Sirhan Sirhan
: Robert Blair Kaiser
's RFK Must Die and Aziz Shihab's Sirhan.
On May 7, Bremer wrote, "They never heard of Wallace in Russia or anyplace. Editors will say: "Wallace dead? Who cares." If something big in Nam flares up, it'll end up at the bottom of the first page. He won't get more than three minutes on the network T.V. news."
Despite his lack of enthusiasm for assassinating Wallace, on May 8, 1972, Bremer left his Milwaukee apartment for the final time. He spent the following week mainly in Michigan. That evening, he was spotted at a Wallace rally in Lansing, Michigan. Two nights later, he attended a Wallace rally in Cadillac
, Michigan
.
Bremer was photographed at a Wallace rally on the evening of May 13, in Kalamazoo
. He had a clear opportunity to shoot his target, but according to his diary, he didn't because he might have shattered some glass and blinded some "stupid 15-year-olds" who stood nearby. He made his final diary entry on May 14, 1972, when he travelled to Maryland with the words "My cry upon firing will be 'A penny for your thoughts'. Copyright 1972. All rights reserved. Arthur H. Bremer".
, for a noon appearance which Wallace made at a shopping-center rally on May 15, 1972. He was dressed in dark glasses; patriotic red, white, and blue; and was wearing his new campaign button
which said "WALLACE in '72". He strongly applauded Wallace, in contrast with many others present, who heckled and taunted the speaker. Two tomatoes were thrown at Wallace during the rally, but missed. Based on this reception, Wallace refused to shake hands with anyone present, denying Bremer the opportunity to carry out his plan.
At a second rally, which took place at Laurel Shopping Center
, 16 miles away in Laurel, Maryland
, there was minor heckling early on but it did not last. About 1,000 people were present; they were mostly quiet and it was generally a calm and friendly crowd. After he had finished speaking, Wallace shook hands with some of those present, against the advice of his Secret Service guards. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Bremer pushed his way forward, stuck his .38 revolver in Wallace's abdomen and opened fire, emptying the weapon before he could be subdued. He hit Wallace four times. Wallace lost a pint of blood and was in a mild state of shock. One bullet lodged in his spinal cord; the other bullets hit Wallace in the abdomen
and chest
. Three other people present were wounded unintentionally: Alabama
State Trooper
Captain E C Dothard (Wallace's personal bodyguard), Dora Thompson (a campaign volunteer) and Nick Zarvos (a Secret Service
agent). Zarvos was shot in the neck, and his speech
was severely damaged following the shooting.
Bremer had a carefully chosen catchphrase of "A Penny For Your Thoughts!", which he had decided to yell as he shot Wallace. In the heat of the assassination attempt, however, he forgot to do so.
After Bremer's arrest, his apartment was searched. Found were Wallace campaign buttons, a Confederate flag, boxes of shells, old high school themed pornographic magazines, newspapers, Black Panther
literature, a booklet entitled 101 Things To Do in Jail and various newspaper clippings, including one on the difficulty of providing security for campaigning politicians. In Bremer's diary were comments such as "My country tis of thee land of sweet bigotry", "Never say colored, say Negro, so here is a negro card", "My blood is black", "Cheer up Oswald", "White collar, conservative, middle class, Republican, suburbanite robot", "A Thundering of hooves and out of the western sky came the colored man" and "If I live tomorrow then it will be a long time".
Police described Bremer's car as a "hotel on wheels". In it they found blankets, pillows, a blue steel, 9mm, 14-shot Browning Automatic Pistol, binoculars, a woman's umbrella, a tape recorder, a portable radio with police band, an electric shaver, photographic equipment, a 1972 copy of a Writer's Yearbook.
in Upper Marlboro, Maryland
, was condensed to a five-day morning to twilight event to accommodate presiding Judge Ralph W. Powers' upcoming vacation plans, and held only two and a half months after Bremer shot Wallace. It began on July 31, 1972. The defense argued that Bremer was a schizophrenic and legally insane at the time of the shooting, and that he had "no emotional capacity to understand anything", but the jury rejected this argument after the prosecution countered that he was perfectly sane. Arthur Marshall, for the prosecution, told the court that Bremer, whilst disturbed and in need of psychiatric treatment, as well as being full of hate and feelings of intense humiliation, was sane, knew what he was doing, had been seeking glory and was still sorry that Wallace had not died. Marshall said that Bremer "knew he would be arrested.... He knew he would be on trial."
On August 4, 1972, the jury of six men and six women took just over an hour and a half to reach their verdict. Bremer was sentenced to 63 years in prison for shooting Wallace and three other people. After being convicted, when asked if he had anything to say, Bremer replied, "Well, Mr. Marshall mentioned that he would like society to be protected from someone like me. Looking back on my life I would have liked it if society had protected me from myself. That's all I have to say at this time". The sentence was reduced to 53 years on September 28 after an appeal.
, from April 4, 1972, to the day before he shot Wallace and his subsequent arrest. In it, he states that he was not particularly opposed to Wallace's political agenda, which was notable for its pro-segregationist
stance, but that his primary motive was to become infamous and to gain notoriety.
The first half of Bremer's diary (pages 1–148) was found on August 26, 1980, where he had concealed it, heavily wrapped and concealed in a plastic suitcase, at the foot of Milwaukee's 27th Street viaduct
. It was dated from March 1 to April 3, 1972. In it, Bremer discussed his hatred for Nixon (Wallace was clearly a secondary target); fantasized about killing unnamed individuals who angered him, or opening fire at random at the corner of 3rd Street and Wisconsin Avenue downtown; and also confessed his admiration for Vel Phillips
, a pioneering black officeholder of Milwaukee (who was elected and serving as Secretary of State of Wisconsin
when the diary was found). The diary was eventually sold to an official of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, who donated it to UAB's Reynolds Historical Library.
Bremer served as the inspiration for the Travis Bickle
character played by Robert DeNiro, in Taxi Driver
(1976
). That film was subsequently called a motivating factor in John Hinckley, Jr.
's decision to shoot
President Ronald Reagan
.
Bremer's assassination attempt did not end Wallace's political career, let alone his life. Afterwards, Wallace was twice easily elected governor of Alabama, in 1974 and 1982. Neither did Wallace die in a hail of bullets as he hoped. While Bremer's actions in May 1972, and trial and conviction three months later, attracted media attention, he did not become as infamous as Lee Harvey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth, who were both successful assassins. Also, Booth's motives were political. Bremer's were not, and he faded into comparative obscurity.
However, the result of the assassination attempt, combined with changing circumstances, both Wallace's, and on the political stage, ended Wallace's national political career. It also played a large part in destroying Wallace's second marriage to Cornelia. They separated in June 1977 and divorced in January 1978.
Despite the existence of many conspiracy theories, no one other than Bremer has ever been charged in connection with the shooting. One reason for talk of a conspiracy stemmed from the fact that Bremer's 1971 income tax return stated that he had earned only $1,611, bringing up the question of how Bremer paid for his travels while stalking Nixon and later Wallace. Another theory was based on the owner of Bremer's apartment building allowing reporters into the alleged assassin's apartment the night of the shooting. Some journalists were later seen leaving with items from Bremer's apartment. According to "The Politics of Rage", a biography of Wallace by Dan T. Carter, Bremer had saved $1,500 when he lived at home with his parents. By the time he shot Wallace, all he had left was $1.73. It appears this was how he financed his travels between March and May 1972.
Wallace forgave Bremer in August 1995 and wrote to him expressing the hope that the two could get to know each other better. Part of Wallace's letter said "Dear Arthur, your shooting me in 1972 caused me a lot of discomfort and pain. I am a born-again Christian. I love you. I have asked our Heavenly Father to touch your heart, and I hope that you will ask him for forgiveness of your sin so you can go to heaven like I am going to heaven. I hope that we can get to know each other better. We have heard of each other a long time" and "Please let Jesus Christ be your savior". Bremer did not reply. The former Alabama governor died on September 13, 1998.
. Bremer was placed in solitary confinement for 30 days after a fight in late October 1972. He was reprimanded after another fight in December 1972, and then placed in solitary again for 30 days after a third fight in February 1973. He had received a death threat in January 1973 from inside the prison for his actions, and there was an incident in February 1980 when he destroyed some property and was twice disciplined for this. Apart from these incidents, Bremer neither caused, nor got into, any trouble during his incarceration.
According to 1997 parole records, psychological testing indicated releasing him would be risky. He argued in his June 1996 hearing that "Shooting segregationist dinosaurs wasn't as bad as harming mainstream politicians". Bremer was released from prison on Friday, November 9, 2007, at the age of 57, having served 35 years of his original sentence. His almost spotless prison record, apart from the February 1980 incident and three fights during the first six months of his sentence, qualified him for mandatory early release under Maryland law. His probation ends in 2025.
Conditions of his release include electronic monitoring and staying away from elected officials and candidates. He must undergo a mental health
evaluation and receive treatment if the state deems it necessary, and may not leave the state without written permission from the state agency that will supervise him until the end of his probation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
convicted for an assassination attempt on U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic presidential candidate George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
on May 15, 1972 in Laurel
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Bremer was found guilty and sentenced to 63 years (53 years after an appeal) in a Maryland prison for the shooting of Wallace and three bystanders.
After 35 years of incarceration, Bremer was released from prison on November 9, 2007.
Early life
Bremer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the third of four sons to William Bremer (1913–2002), who was a bread truck driver, and Sylvia Bremer (1915 – February 2007), a homemaker. His two elder siblings were illegitimate and their fathers were two different men. Bremer was raised by his working-class parents on the South Side of Milwaukee and lived in a dysfunctional household. He was alleged to have had a stormy relationship with both parents, though he was closer to his father. Bremer stated "I would escape my ugly reality by pretending that I was living with a television family and there was no yelling at home or no one to hit me."At school, Bremer did well in English and history and displayed a talent for writing, although his grades were generally low. He scored 106 on an IQ test in high school, and 114 on a test he took after his failed assassination attempt.
School was an ordeal for Bremer because he did not make friends and was either bullied or simply ignored by other students. Bremer had written in his diary that "No English or history test was ever as hard, no math final exam ever as difficult as waiting in a school lunch line alone, waiting to eat alone ... while hundreds huddled & gossiped and roared, & laughed and stared at me ..." and "No one ever noticed me nor took interest in me as an individual with the need to receive or give love. In junior high school, I was an object of pure ridicule for my dress, withdrawal, and asocial manner. Dozens of times, I saw individuals laugh and smile more in ten to fifteen minutes than I did in all my life up to then."
His first grade
First grade
First grade is a year of primary education in schools in the United States and English-speaking provinces of Canada. It is the first school year after kindergarten...
teacher wrote that it was a pleasure to have Bremer in class, but when he was in the third grade
Third grade
In the United States, third grade is a year of primary education. It is the third school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 8 – 9 years old, depending on when their birthday occurs....
another teacher wrote that "Arthur has adjusted well in class but hasn't made an effort as of yet to play with the other children at recess." He was remembered for awkward laughter and not being able to engage in small talk with others. Bremer attended South Division High School
South Division High School
South Division High School is a public high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. South Division is part of the Milwaukee Public Schools.- History :...
, where he briefly starred on the school's football team.
During adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, Bremer was not rebellious and did not attract concern despite his emotional problems, which were overlooked because they did not involve transgressions on which authorities usually focus. Despite his problems, he graduated from high school on January 28, 1969.
After school
After graduating from high school, from September 1970 Bremer briefly attended Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeMilwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee Area Technical College is a two-year vocational-technical college based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MATC offers day, evening, and weekend classes at campuses in downtown Milwaukee, Oak Creek, West Allis, and Mequon. Enrollment is about 60,000...
where he studied aerial photography, art, writing and psychology. He dropped out after just one semester in college, where he was recalled as a "strange, aloof and argumentative" student who "rarely talked to anybody."
Bremer got a job as a busboy at the Milwaukee Athletic Club in 1969. Although his employer said he was a "very hard and dependable worker who kept himself to himself", in 1971, Bremer was demoted to kitchen work after customers complained that he talked to himself, and that "he whistled and marched in tune with music played in the dining room". Angered by his demotion, he complained to the program planner for the Milwaukee Commission on Community Relations. The complaint was investigated and dismissed. The planner wrote on November 8, "Mr Bremer is a young man who is rather withdrawn. Appears to bottle up anger but will sometimes let it go. I assess him bordering on paranoid whilst at the same time, conscientious in doing his job at the Athletic club." After this, Bremer quit his job at the Athletic club.
Bremer got a part-time job working as a janitor at Story Elementary School from September 1, 1970. He lasted almost 18 months, until he quit in February 1972.
On May 22, 1971, his one known friend, Thomas Neuman, committed suicide after playing Russian Roulette.
On October 16, 1971, Bremer moved out of his parents' house after he fell out with them and moved into a three-room apartment at 2433 West Michigan Street, near Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, where he lived until a week before the assassination attempt. Those who lived in the same block said that Bremer was usually alone, with rarely any visitors.
On November 18, 1971, Bremer landed his first arrest for carrying a concealed weapon and for parking in a no-parking zone. A court-appointed psychiatrist declared Bremer mentally ill but sane
Sanity
Sanity refers to the soundness, rationality and healthiness of the human mind, as opposed to insanity. A person is sane if they are rational...
. Bremer underwent psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, and was released on a $38.50 fine on December 8, after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct. Despite this, on January 13, 1972, Bremer went into the Casanova Gun Shop at 1601 West Greenfield Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and for $90 bought a snub-nosed Charter Arms
Charter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers that are relatively inexpensive yet serviceable handguns. The original Charter Arms produced revolvers chambered in calibers .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, .38 Special and...
Undercover .38-calibre revolver.
Brief relationship
A week after his arrest, at the end of November 1971, Bremer began a brief relationship with 16-year-old Joan Pemrich, a freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
at South Division High School. Bremer, who had never had a girlfriend before, asked Pemrich out and she accepted. Their first date went well. They went to a museum, walked around Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
beach area and then went to a restaurant. However, after this promising start, the relationship went downhill. Bremer displayed pornographic pictures to Pemrich and made graphic sex talk. He said he could help Pemrich with her hang-ups as he claimed to know a lot about psychology. When Bremer was introduced to Pemrich's cousin, he made remarks about the girl's "big ass and boobs."
Bremer's inappropriate behavior also showed itself at a Blood, Sweat and Tears concert. He kissed a woman not in his group while waiting to get into the concert. The woman promptly reported his action to a police officer who let Bremer off with a warning. During the concert, Bremer attempted to impress Pemrich and her friends by dramatically dancing in his seat. He then applauded the group when no one else was doing so, and swayed back and forth during the concert. After the concert, Bremer excitedly whispered to Pemrich that he was so sexually aroused he could hardly walk.
Pemrich ended the relationship during the first days of 1972, because Bremer acted "goofy" and "weird." Bremer could not overcome this rejection, which resulted in his constantly calling her, stalking her, and on January 14, 1972, shaving his head, saying to her that "you make me feel as empty as my head." Joan's mother then threatened to call the police if Bremer continued to pester her.
After Bremer's arrest, Joan Pemrich expressed surprise at Bremer's actions, because she said he was not violent and never mentioned or talked about Wallace or politics during their time together.
Richard Nixon
On March 1, 1972, Bremer began his diaryAn Assassin's Diary
An Assassin's Diary is the title of a book released in 1973 which was based on part of the diary of Arthur Bremer, the would-be assassin of Alabama Governor George Wallace...
with the words, "It is my personal plan to assassinate by pistol either Richard Nixon or George Wallace. I intend to shoot one or the other while he attends a campaign rally for the Wisconsin Primary." Bremer's purpose was "to do SOMETHING BOLD AND DRAMATIC, FORCEFUL & DYNAMIC, A STATEMENT of my manhood for the world to see." The following evening, Bremer attended an organizational meeting for Wallace at The Pfister Hotel
The Pfister Hotel
The Pfister Hotel is a hotel in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was owned by Guido Pfister and his son Charles Pfister and opened in 1893 at the cost of over 1 million dollars. Designed by architect Henry C. Koch, it had features uncommon in its time like fireproofing, electricity, and thermostat...
in Milwaukee.
Although Bremer's main aim was to assassinate then-President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Richard Nixon, on March 23, Bremer attended a Wallace dinner and rally at Milwaukee's Red Carpet Airport Inn. During the next two months, Bremer would trail Wallace, across the USA, travelling by car, plane, ferry and bus.
On April 4, Bremer attended a Wallace victory rally at the ballroom of the Holiday Inn, Milwaukee. Two days later, he flew to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to visit a massage parlor in the hope of losing his virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
and stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
The Waldorf-Astoria is a luxury hotel in New York. It has been housed in two historic landmark buildings in New York City. The first, designed by architect Henry J. Hardenbergh, was on the Fifth Avenue site of the Empire State Building. The present building at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan is a...
. On April 8, while preparing for a trip to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, he put one of his guns, a Browning
Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
9mm, under a mat in the trunk of his car, but it went down so deeply into the right wheel well that he could not get it back out again. It was removed a week after Bremer's arrest when the car was dismantled.
On April 11, Bremer travelled to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and stayed at the Lord Elgin Hotel. Two days later, Bremer, dressed in a business suit, wearing sunglasses and with a revolver in his pocket, hoped to assassinate Nixon but security was tight because of the presence of anti-Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
protesters and Québécois nationalists. Ottawa police officers guarded the motorcade's path, making it impossible for anyone to get close to Nixon. Bremer was also unsure whether any bullets would go through the glass of Nixon's limousine. As a result, he did not open fire and the motorcade sped past unharmed. Bremer left Canada, staying at the Sheraton
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
Motor Inn in New Carrollton, Maryland
New Carrollton, Maryland
New Carrollton is a city located in central Prince George's County, Maryland, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, population was 12,589.New Carrollton is 12.11 miles from central Washington, DC....
for three days. After this he returned to Milwaukee, where he spent the following two weeks. On April 24, he wrote in his diary, "I'm as important as the start of WWI. I just need the little opening and a second of time."
Plans to assassinate Wallace
Having realized it would be nearly impossible to assassinate Nixon, and having taken a ten day break from traveling and writing, on May 4, he decided that Wallace would have the "fate" of being his victim, even though his diary entries never showed the same enthusiasm as they did with regard to assassinating Nixon. The following day, he checked out two books from the public library in Milwaukee, both detailing the assassination of Senator Robert F. KennedyRobert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
by Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel...
: Robert Blair Kaiser
Robert Blair Kaiser
Robert Blair Kaiser is an American author and journalist, best known for his writing on the Catholic Church.As a correspondent for Time Magazine, he won the Overseas Press Club's Ed Cunningham Award in 1962 for the "best magazine reporting from abroad" for his reporting on the Second Vatican...
's RFK Must Die and Aziz Shihab's Sirhan.
On May 7, Bremer wrote, "They never heard of Wallace in Russia or anyplace. Editors will say: "Wallace dead? Who cares." If something big in Nam flares up, it'll end up at the bottom of the first page. He won't get more than three minutes on the network T.V. news."
Despite his lack of enthusiasm for assassinating Wallace, on May 8, 1972, Bremer left his Milwaukee apartment for the final time. He spent the following week mainly in Michigan. That evening, he was spotted at a Wallace rally in Lansing, Michigan. Two nights later, he attended a Wallace rally in Cadillac
Cadillac, Michigan
Cadillac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Wexford County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,000. The city is situated at the junction of US 131, M-55 and M-115...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Bremer was photographed at a Wallace rally on the evening of May 13, in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. He had a clear opportunity to shoot his target, but according to his diary, he didn't because he might have shattered some glass and blinded some "stupid 15-year-olds" who stood nearby. He made his final diary entry on May 14, 1972, when he travelled to Maryland with the words "My cry upon firing will be 'A penny for your thoughts'. Copyright 1972. All rights reserved. Arthur H. Bremer".
The shooting
Bremer turned up in Wheaton, MarylandWheaton, Maryland
Wheaton is an unincorporated, urbanized area in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, north of Washington, D.C., northwest of Silver Spring. Wheaton takes its name from Frank Wheaton , a career officer in the United States Army and volunteer from Rhode Island in the Union Army who rose to the rank of...
, for a noon appearance which Wallace made at a shopping-center rally on May 15, 1972. He was dressed in dark glasses; patriotic red, white, and blue; and was wearing his new campaign button
Campaign button
A campaign button is used in the United States during an election as political advertising for a candidate or political party, or to proclaim the issues that are part of the political platform. Political buttons date as far back as President George Washington. They have taken many forms as the...
which said "WALLACE in '72". He strongly applauded Wallace, in contrast with many others present, who heckled and taunted the speaker. Two tomatoes were thrown at Wallace during the rally, but missed. Based on this reception, Wallace refused to shake hands with anyone present, denying Bremer the opportunity to carry out his plan.
At a second rally, which took place at Laurel Shopping Center
Laurel Shopping Center
Laurel Shopping Center is an open air shopping complex located in Laurel, Maryland, on U.S. Route 1 just south of Maryland Route 198, and is positioned next to Laurel Mall.-History:...
, 16 miles away in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
, there was minor heckling early on but it did not last. About 1,000 people were present; they were mostly quiet and it was generally a calm and friendly crowd. After he had finished speaking, Wallace shook hands with some of those present, against the advice of his Secret Service guards. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Bremer pushed his way forward, stuck his .38 revolver in Wallace's abdomen and opened fire, emptying the weapon before he could be subdued. He hit Wallace four times. Wallace lost a pint of blood and was in a mild state of shock. One bullet lodged in his spinal cord; the other bullets hit Wallace in the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
and chest
Chest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
. Three other people present were wounded unintentionally: Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
State Trooper
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
Captain E C Dothard (Wallace's personal bodyguard), Dora Thompson (a campaign volunteer) and Nick Zarvos (a Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agent). Zarvos was shot in the neck, and his speech
Manner of articulation
In linguistics, manner of articulation describes how the tongue, lips, jaw, and other speech organs are involved in making a sound. Often the concept is only used for the production of consonants, even though the movement of the articulars will also greatly alter the resonant properties of the...
was severely damaged following the shooting.
Bremer had a carefully chosen catchphrase of "A Penny For Your Thoughts!", which he had decided to yell as he shot Wallace. In the heat of the assassination attempt, however, he forgot to do so.
Arrest
After emptying his revolver, Bremer was wrestled to the ground by people at the rally and was punched and kicked by several people present, and was slightly injured before the police seized him.After Bremer's arrest, his apartment was searched. Found were Wallace campaign buttons, a Confederate flag, boxes of shells, old high school themed pornographic magazines, newspapers, Black Panther
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
literature, a booklet entitled 101 Things To Do in Jail and various newspaper clippings, including one on the difficulty of providing security for campaigning politicians. In Bremer's diary were comments such as "My country tis of thee land of sweet bigotry", "Never say colored, say Negro, so here is a negro card", "My blood is black", "Cheer up Oswald", "White collar, conservative, middle class, Republican, suburbanite robot", "A Thundering of hooves and out of the western sky came the colored man" and "If I live tomorrow then it will be a long time".
Police described Bremer's car as a "hotel on wheels". In it they found blankets, pillows, a blue steel, 9mm, 14-shot Browning Automatic Pistol, binoculars, a woman's umbrella, a tape recorder, a portable radio with police band, an electric shaver, photographic equipment, a 1972 copy of a Writer's Yearbook.
Trial and conviction
His subsequent trialJury trial
A jury trial is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge...
in Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger....
, was condensed to a five-day morning to twilight event to accommodate presiding Judge Ralph W. Powers' upcoming vacation plans, and held only two and a half months after Bremer shot Wallace. It began on July 31, 1972. The defense argued that Bremer was a schizophrenic and legally insane at the time of the shooting, and that he had "no emotional capacity to understand anything", but the jury rejected this argument after the prosecution countered that he was perfectly sane. Arthur Marshall, for the prosecution, told the court that Bremer, whilst disturbed and in need of psychiatric treatment, as well as being full of hate and feelings of intense humiliation, was sane, knew what he was doing, had been seeking glory and was still sorry that Wallace had not died. Marshall said that Bremer "knew he would be arrested.... He knew he would be on trial."
On August 4, 1972, the jury of six men and six women took just over an hour and a half to reach their verdict. Bremer was sentenced to 63 years in prison for shooting Wallace and three other people. After being convicted, when asked if he had anything to say, Bremer replied, "Well, Mr. Marshall mentioned that he would like society to be protected from someone like me. Looking back on my life I would have liked it if society had protected me from myself. That's all I have to say at this time". The sentence was reduced to 53 years on September 28 after an appeal.
Aftermath
One hundred and thirteen pages of Bremer's diary were published in 1973 as An Assassin's DiaryAn Assassin's Diary
An Assassin's Diary is the title of a book released in 1973 which was based on part of the diary of Arthur Bremer, the would-be assassin of Alabama Governor George Wallace...
, from April 4, 1972, to the day before he shot Wallace and his subsequent arrest. In it, he states that he was not particularly opposed to Wallace's political agenda, which was notable for its pro-segregationist
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
stance, but that his primary motive was to become infamous and to gain notoriety.
The first half of Bremer's diary (pages 1–148) was found on August 26, 1980, where he had concealed it, heavily wrapped and concealed in a plastic suitcase, at the foot of Milwaukee's 27th Street viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
. It was dated from March 1 to April 3, 1972. In it, Bremer discussed his hatred for Nixon (Wallace was clearly a secondary target); fantasized about killing unnamed individuals who angered him, or opening fire at random at the corner of 3rd Street and Wisconsin Avenue downtown; and also confessed his admiration for Vel Phillips
Vel Phillips
Velvalea Rodgers "Vel" Phillips is a Wisconsin attorney who served as a local official and judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and as Secretary of State of Wisconsin, often as the first woman and/or African-American in her position....
, a pioneering black officeholder of Milwaukee (who was elected and serving as Secretary of State of Wisconsin
Secretary of State of Wisconsin
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is an officer of the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and the second in the order of succession of the Governor of Wisconsin, behind the Lieutenant Governor....
when the diary was found). The diary was eventually sold to an official of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, who donated it to UAB's Reynolds Historical Library.
Bremer served as the inspiration for the Travis Bickle
Travis Bickle
Travis Bickle is a fictional character from the 1976 film Taxi Driver, played by Robert De Niro. He is widely considered one of the most iconic characters in film history, and De Niro earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of him....
character played by Robert DeNiro, in Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver
Taxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
(1976
1976 in film
The year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
). That film was subsequently called a motivating factor in John Hinckley, Jr.
John Hinckley, Jr.
John Warnock Hinckley, Jr., attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C., on March 30, 1981, as the culmination of an effort to impress teen actress Jodie Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and has remained under institutional psychiatric care since...
's decision to shoot
Reagan assassination attempt
The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr...
President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
Bremer's assassination attempt did not end Wallace's political career, let alone his life. Afterwards, Wallace was twice easily elected governor of Alabama, in 1974 and 1982. Neither did Wallace die in a hail of bullets as he hoped. While Bremer's actions in May 1972, and trial and conviction three months later, attracted media attention, he did not become as infamous as Lee Harvey Oswald or John Wilkes Booth, who were both successful assassins. Also, Booth's motives were political. Bremer's were not, and he faded into comparative obscurity.
However, the result of the assassination attempt, combined with changing circumstances, both Wallace's, and on the political stage, ended Wallace's national political career. It also played a large part in destroying Wallace's second marriage to Cornelia. They separated in June 1977 and divorced in January 1978.
Despite the existence of many conspiracy theories, no one other than Bremer has ever been charged in connection with the shooting. One reason for talk of a conspiracy stemmed from the fact that Bremer's 1971 income tax return stated that he had earned only $1,611, bringing up the question of how Bremer paid for his travels while stalking Nixon and later Wallace. Another theory was based on the owner of Bremer's apartment building allowing reporters into the alleged assassin's apartment the night of the shooting. Some journalists were later seen leaving with items from Bremer's apartment. According to "The Politics of Rage", a biography of Wallace by Dan T. Carter, Bremer had saved $1,500 when he lived at home with his parents. By the time he shot Wallace, all he had left was $1.73. It appears this was how he financed his travels between March and May 1972.
Wallace forgave Bremer in August 1995 and wrote to him expressing the hope that the two could get to know each other better. Part of Wallace's letter said "Dear Arthur, your shooting me in 1972 caused me a lot of discomfort and pain. I am a born-again Christian. I love you. I have asked our Heavenly Father to touch your heart, and I hope that you will ask him for forgiveness of your sin so you can go to heaven like I am going to heaven. I hope that we can get to know each other better. We have heard of each other a long time" and "Please let Jesus Christ be your savior". Bremer did not reply. The former Alabama governor died on September 13, 1998.
Sentence and release
Bremer served his sentence at the Maryland Correctional Institution (MCI-H) in Hagerstown, MarylandHagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
. Bremer was placed in solitary confinement for 30 days after a fight in late October 1972. He was reprimanded after another fight in December 1972, and then placed in solitary again for 30 days after a third fight in February 1973. He had received a death threat in January 1973 from inside the prison for his actions, and there was an incident in February 1980 when he destroyed some property and was twice disciplined for this. Apart from these incidents, Bremer neither caused, nor got into, any trouble during his incarceration.
According to 1997 parole records, psychological testing indicated releasing him would be risky. He argued in his June 1996 hearing that "Shooting segregationist dinosaurs wasn't as bad as harming mainstream politicians". Bremer was released from prison on Friday, November 9, 2007, at the age of 57, having served 35 years of his original sentence. His almost spotless prison record, apart from the February 1980 incident and three fights during the first six months of his sentence, qualified him for mandatory early release under Maryland law. His probation ends in 2025.
Conditions of his release include electronic monitoring and staying away from elected officials and candidates. He must undergo a mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
evaluation and receive treatment if the state deems it necessary, and may not leave the state without written permission from the state agency that will supervise him until the end of his probation.
In popular culture
- The most famous pop culture reference to Bremer is Martin ScorseseMartin ScorseseMartin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
's 1976 film1976 in filmThe year 1976 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*March 22 - Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film...
Taxi DriverTaxi DriverTaxi Driver is a 1976 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, and Cybill Shepherd. The film was nominated for four Academy...
. The story is loosely based on Bremer's adult life, using much artistic licenseArtistic licenseArtistic licence is a colloquial term, sometimes euphemism, used to denote the distortion of fact, alteration of the conventions of grammar or language, or rewording of pre-existing text made by an artist to improve a piece of...
. - Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
wrote a song, "Family SnapshotFamily Snapshot"Family Snapshot" is a song written and performed by British musician Peter Gabriel, appearing on his third eponymous album. The song was inspired by An Assassin's Diary, published in 1973 and written by Arthur Bremer, who attempted to assassinate George Wallace, a politician who supported racial...
", based on An Assassin's DiaryAn Assassin's DiaryAn Assassin's Diary is the title of a book released in 1973 which was based on part of the diary of Arthur Bremer, the would-be assassin of Alabama Governor George Wallace...
. - Bremer is briefly mentioned in Stephen SondheimStephen SondheimStephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
's musical AssassinsAssassins (musical)Assassins is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. It uses the premise of a murderous carnival game to produce a revue-style portrayal of men and women who attempted to assassinate Presidents of the United States...
as a placed member of the audience. When the John Wilkes Booth character addresses the audience in the scene titled November 22, 1963 he asks, "Is Artie Bremer here tonight? Where is Artie Bremer?" the audience-placed "Bremer" shouts out "It was a bum rap, my penis made me do it."
External links
- "Wallace Is Shot, Legs Paralyzed; Suspect Seized at Laurel Rally", William Greider, Washington Post, May 16, 1972
- "George Wallace's Appointment in Laurel", Time Magazine, May 29, 1972
- "Bremer case still a riddle because of Judge's haste" (abstract), Michael Olesker, Baltimore Sun, January 28, 1996
- "Failed Assassin Queues for Buffet", National PostNational PostThe National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, April 7, 2008