For years Guiseppe blamed his troubles, including his sore stomach, on President Hoover. But Hoover was in Washington and this new president would be in Miami. To Guiseppe, all president's were no good capitalists. Guiseppe planned to get even.
Lillian Johns Cross, a Miami physician's wife, stood in the crowd at Bay Front Park on Wednesday evening, February 15. Thomas Armour, a tall, rangy Miami contractor, stood behind Mrs. Cross. Nearby sat an old bench. Mr. Armour and Mrs. Cross had never met; they had in common the desire to see the new president.
At half past nine, the president-elect's car pulled up at the park's bandstand. FDR had spent the previous week and a half on Vincent Astor's yacht, Nourmahal. An aide handed Roosevelt a small lapel microphone. Pulling himself up onto the convertable's trunk, FDR flashed his famous smile and said, "My friends.... I've had a very wonderful twelve days' fishing.... It has been a wonderful rest. I'm not going to attempt to tell you any fish stories.... The only fly in the ointment has been I've put on about ten pounds.... I hope to come down here next winter.... Many thanks."
Applause and cheers echoed through the park as Roosevelt slipped down into the back seat. While acknowledging the crowd, Roosevelt saw Chicago's Mayor Anton Cermak on the bandstand. The President-elect waved him to the car.
"Hello Tony!"
"Hello, Mr. President."
While the two politicians chatted, Guiseppe Zangara -- a short man reaching only five feet in height -- desperately tried to see over the crowd. Spotting an old bench, he climbed on it. With his new vantage point Zangara could see the President-elect only 35-feet away. Mayor Cermak started to walk away from the car. Roosevelt began reading a telegram an aide had thrust into his hand.
Zangara pointed his pistol and fired. Margaret Kruis, a Newark, New Jersey showgirl, fell to the ground.
Zangara fired again. A red stain appeared on the white shirt front of Mayor Cermak, who clutched his stomach and
