Attempted assassination of Harry S. Truman

Common card · No. 377577

On November 1, 1950, Puerto Rican secessionists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman at Blair House during the renovation of the White House. Both men were stopped before gaining entry to the house. Torresola mortally wounded White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt, who killed him in return fire. Secret Service agents wounded Collazo. Truman was upstairs in the house and not harmed. Two days before the assassination attempt, Puerto Rican nationalists had attempted to overthrow the government of Puerto Rico. Uprisings occurred in many towns, including Jayuya, where one of the would-be assassins was born, and in neighbouring Utuado. During the uprising, the U.S. Air Force bombed and strafed both towns, badly damaging them. In acknowledgement of the issues related to Puerto Rico's status, Truman supported a 1952 plebiscite in Puerto Rico. 81.9% of votes were in favor of Puerto Rico continuing as a Free Associated State of the US. Collazo...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Frank Gatteri, United States Army Signal Corps, Public domain