Which president shot a man for treason?
Asked by: Zakary Hermiston | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (34 votes)
No U.S. President has ever personally shot a man for treason; the idea stems from a fictional scene in the movie Swordfish, though the myth mistakenly links it to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was involved in prosecuting his former Vice President, Aaron Burr, for treason, but Burr was acquitted, and Jefferson never executed anyone on the White House lawn.
What president of the United States was charged with treason?
Regardless, the grand jury, made up mostly of Democratic-Republicans, indicted Burr for treason, the only time in our country's history when a President or Vice President has been indicted for this crime.
Who was the last person killed for treason in the United States?
In response, Union Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, the commander of the Union ground forces, had Mumford court-martialed and executed for treason. He was the last person executed for treason against the United States. North Carolina, U.S.
Which President killed a man on the White House lawn?
There is a persistent story that, on the White House lawn, Thomas Jefferson personally executed a prisoner for treason. Some sources name the victim as a North Carolina man called Rodney Cox.
Has the US ever executed someone for treason?
Death sentences for treason under the Constitution have been carried out 16 times. The United States executed 15 Taos Revolt insurgents led by Pablo Montoya and Tomás Romero in 1847.
Obama responds to Trump's allegation of 'treason'
Can the president of the United States be charged with treason?
Article II, Section 4: The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. U.S. Const. art.
When was the last person hanged for treason?
In 1946, William Joyce was the last person to be executed for treason in the United Kingdom. He was charged with levying war against King George VI by travelling to Germany in the early months of the Second World War and broadcasting pro-Nazi propaganda to British radio audiences.
Which president had two assassination attempts?
President Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. President who survived two separate assassination attempts within just 17 days in September 1975, both occurring in California, one by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and another by Sara Jane Moore, with Ford being unharmed in both incidents.
Which president never slept in the White House?
Despite its purchase during the Lincoln administration, the bed was probably never used by President Abraham Lincoln.
Which president killed a man in a duel?
But only one duel resulted in shots fired – the duel in 1806, when he killed Charles Dickinson. As Jackson maintained his reputation as being hot-tempered, a quarrel with Charles Dickinson over a horse race soon turned violent when Dickinson made rude comments about the character of Andrew's wife, Rachel.
Is treason still punished by death?
Yes, treason is punishable by death in the United States, as specified in 18 U.S.C. § 2381, which states offenders "shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000". While treason is a capital offense, meaning the death penalty is a potential sentence, it's extremely rare in practice, with the federal death sentence for treason only carried out twice historically.
What couple was executed for treason?
With the Cold War deepening, a recent war in Korea against Communist forces, and an escalating nuclear arms race, the electrocution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for treason and conspiracy to pass nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union was a first for the United States: the execution for espionage during peacetime.
What is the highest form of treason in the United States?
Section 3 Treason
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
Has a US president ever gone to jail?
No U.S. President has ever been jailed, but President Ulysses S. Grant was arrested while in office for speeding in a horse-drawn carriage in 1872, though he was released on bail and later forfeited a bond after not appearing in court. While several presidents faced investigations or impeachment, Grant remains the only sitting president to have been taken into custody, making him the closest a president came to being jailed for a misdemeanor, notes NPR.
What are three things the president can't do?
A PRESIDENT CANNOT . . .
make laws. declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws.
Can the president fire the vice president?
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the authority to remove the vice president of the United States from office in two separate proceedings. The first one takes place in the House of Representatives, which impeaches the vice president by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote.
What president could never tell a lie?
For years people have shared a story about the first U.S. president involving a hatchet, a cherry tree, and a young Washington who “cannot tell a lie.” The legend attests to George Washington's honesty, virtue, and piety—that is, if it is true.
Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Who is the only president to have a child born at the White House?
The only U.S. President to have a child born in the White House was Grover Cleveland, whose daughter, Esther Cleveland, was born there on September 9, 1893, during his second term in office.
Which president died in office but were not assassinated?
Eight U.S. Presidents died in office, four by assassination and four from natural causes. Presidents who died of natural causes include William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren G. Harding, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
What woman tried to assassinate President Ford?
Sara Jane Moore (née Kahn; February 15, 1930 – September 24, 2025) was an American accountant and FBI informant who attempted to assassinate U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1975. Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Which president was shot twice but died from an infection?
On July 2, 1881, United States president James A. Garfield was shot twice. He died a little over two months later—not from the assassin's bullets, but from his doctors' misguided treatment.
Does Britain still have treason laws?
Modern legislation has taken the place of the Treason Act since it was last tested in court in 1946, including the 1989 Official Secrets Act, the 1998 Human Rights Act and the 2000 Terrorism Act.
When was the last time the US executed someone?
The last federal execution in the U.S. was Dustin Higgs on January 16, 2021, under the Trump administration; however, state executions continue, with recent activity in states like Texas and Missouri, so the absolute last U.S. execution overall depends on the specific state's date, with recent ones occurring in late 2024/early 2025 in Missouri (Michael Tisius - June 2023), Texas (Jemelle Hollis, Richard Stark - late 2024), and potentially Ohio (pending new methods in 2025/2026), though federal executions remain on hold.
How many US citizens have been executed for treason?
While Treason prosecutions are rare today, only 40 cases have been prosecuted in U.S. history. Of the 40 treason cases charged since the founding of the U.S., only 13 resulted in a conviction, and only three people have been executed for it, Eisner Gorin stated.