AN ASSASSINATION TYPOLOGY The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence identifies five types of assassinations as follows: 1. One leader assassinates another so as to emerge as the new leader. This type is common in the middle east and in Latin America, but not in the U.S. This is a lower level leader killing a higher level leader. Example - Hitler killing Hindenburg, Ernst Rohm; the killing of Julius Caesar by the Roman Senate. 2. Government agents assassinate in order to suppress political challenges from rival political groups. This would be higher level leaders killing off potential rivals who are equal to or lower than they are. Example - Marcos regime killing Aquino, Hitler's Operation Hummingbird (not the Rohm killing, but the 999+ others); Lenin killing Trotsky; Stalin killing Sergei Kirov (and then 40 to 50 million others). 3. Assassinate to create fear and demoralize the existing power in order to get a change in government. Often done in countries where another country is serving as the colonial power. Example - Indian terrorists assassinate British personnel in order to get the British to leave India; Italian Red Brigade murders would fit here; M-19; Irish Republican Army. 4. Assassinate for propaganda purposes. Terrorist groups assassinate someone to bring attention to their group. Example - Attempts on Ford's life by Squeeky Fromm; Leon Czologocz assassination of McKinnley; SLA killing of Marcus Foster; New World Liberation Front bombings; Zangara attempt on Franklin Roosevelt. 5. Assassination the result of mental instability on the part of the assassin. Example - Reagan's would be assassin, Hinckley (had the Jodi Foster infatuation); Lawrence attempt on Andrew Jackson; Guiteau attack on Garfield. James F. Kirkham, et al., Assassination and Political Violence: A Report to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. New York: Bantom Books, l970, pp. 3-7; James Poland, Understanding Terrorism. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, l991, pp. 168-172.