On May 15, 1972, a man named Samuel Byck attempted to assassinate U.S. President Richard Nixon. Byck hijacked a plane and attempted to crash it into the White House, though he was stopped by authorities before reaching his target. The incident, while unsuccessful, underscored the growing political violence in the 1970s. Byck was later killed during a standoff with police, and his motives remain a subject of debate. The event raised concerns about political extremism in the United States.