On Arthur Bremer
Robert S. Griffin
www.robertsgriffin.com
On May 15, 1972, twenty-one-old Arthur Bremer shot presidential
candidate George Wallace at a rally in a shopping center in Laurel,
Maryland, paralyzing Wallace for life. At approximately 4:00 p.m., a
few minutes after the rally ended, Bremer pushed his way forward,
stuck his .38 revolver in Wallace's stomach, and opened fire,
emptying the weapon before he could be subdued. Bremer had
stalked President Richard Nixon in Canada before turning his
attentions to Wallace. Below are excerpts from Bremer’s diary.
Source: On Arthur Bremer, An Assassin’s Diary (New York: Harper’s
Magazine Press, 1973).
I’m as important as the start of WWI I just need the little opening
and a second of time. Nothing has happened for so long, 3 months,
the 1st person I held a conversation with in 3 months was a near
naked girl rubbing my erect penis & she wouldn’t let me put it thru
her.
I gota get him [Nixon]. I’m tired, I’m pissed, I’m crazy. Was gona
get drunk last night—WOW—what a personality change. Decided
against it—just wanted to pick a fight with the bartender some
where or someone. Get arrested & then where am I. I got something
to do—something big befor I ever get arrested again.
I go crasy with delight when I hear Jhonny Cash’s new record, “You
put me here.”
“I shot you with my .38.
And now I’m doing time.”
I’ve decided that Wallace will have the honor of—what would you
call it?
I had to get away from my thoughts for a while. I went to the zoo,
the lake front, saw “Clockwork Orange” & thought about getting
Wallace all through the picture—fantasing my self as the Alek on the
screen come to real life—but without “my brothers” & without any
“in and out.” Just “a little of the old ultra violence.”
I hope my death makes more sense than my life.
A few days ago I felt sick—a slight fever & hot feeling in my chest,
sides, &