John Nance Garner (New England Secession)

John Nance Garner (November 22, 1868-October 31, 1943) was the Vice President of the United States under Franklin D. Roosevelt, from 1933-1937, and was affiliated with the Democratic Party. After Roosevelt's reelection loss to Republican Alf Landon in 1936, Garner entered a deep depression. Garner became enraged at President Landon, especially as Landon declared martial law before the 1940 election and cancelled it.

In 1941, Garner attended a political event hosted by the Republicans and President Landon. During Landon's speech, Garner worked his way to the front, a handgun hidden beneath his coat. After getting to the front row, Garner pulled out his handgun and fired three times directly into Landon's chest. Police officers swarmed Garner, who dropped the gun, and was arrested. Landon was dead immediately, and Vice President Frank Knox was inaugurated the next day.

Garner was sentenced to death, and his execution by electric chair was scheduled for October 31, 1953. Garner served his term in Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. On Halloween, 1943, a guard found Garner hanging in his cell by his prison-issue garments. He had hanged himself, exactly ten years before his scheduled execution.

Legacy
Garner's assassination of President Landon eventually killed the Democratic party, which ended up dividing itself up into the Socialist Party, Progressive Party and Moderate Party four years after Landon's assassination.

Garner's portrait has been removed from Washington. His name is only briefly mentioned, if ever. Some call him the "Benedict Arnold of the 20th Century".