NCJ Number
62568
Editor(s)
W J CROTTY
Date Published
1971
Length
574 pages
Annotation
FOURTEEN ESSAYS INQUIRE INTO THE FREQUENCY OF VIOLENCE IN THE U.S. WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO POLITICAL ASSASSINATION AND THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
A COMMON THEME OF THE ESSAYS IS THAT POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS SHARE CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS, ARE OPEN TO INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING, AND ARE NOT UNFATHOMABLE FREAK OCCURRENCES. THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IS ADDRESSED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATIONS AND A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF U.S. POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS. THESE PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATIONS ARE EXAMINED WITHIN A FRAMEWORK PROVIDED BY THE EXPERIENCES OF 84 OTHER NATIONS. A PSYCHIATRIC OVERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINS INCLUDES A REVIEW OF SIRHAN SIRHAN'S DEVELOPMENT IN THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE ON ASSASSINS AND HUMAN MOTIVATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT. STUDIES OF PUBLIC REACTIONS TO POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS DISCUSS THE FEELINGS OF POLITICAL LEADERS, THE EXPRESSIONS OF SOUTHERN SCHOOL CHILDREN ON LEARNING OF THE DEATH OF THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE ASSASSINATION'S EFFECT ON THEIR POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION, AND THE RETURNS ON A NATIONWIDE SURVEY THAT EXPLORED U.S. TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE AND ASSASSINATION. THE IMPLICATIONS OF ASSASSINATION FOR THE POLITICAL HEALTH AND CONTINUITY ARE REVEALED THROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE BACKGROUND AND NATURE OF DIFFERING PATTERNS OF ASSASSINATION; A REVIEW OF AMERICAN TRADITIONS THAT HAVE PROVEN SUPPORTIVE OF HIGH LEVELS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE; THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THESIS THAT POLITICAL ASSASSINATION IS AN AMERICAN TRADITION; AND AN ESSAY ON THE RAMIFICATIONS OF ASSASSINATION AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY. FINALLY, THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUDDEN REMOVAL OF A NATIONAL LEADER ARE CONSIDERED AS THEY RELATE TO POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL NEEDS FOR CONTINUITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF VIOLENCE. EXAMPLES OF POST-ASSASSINATION EXPERIENCES OF THREE DIFFERENT NATIONS IN VARYING TIME PERIODS ARE PRESENTED. THE ESSAYS ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF AN ACT OF MURDER FOR A SOCIETY THAT HAS LITTLE TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ASSASSINATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH ESSAY AND AN INDEX FACILITATES ACCESS TO THE BOOK. (MHP)