On November 1, 1950, two men walked up to Blair House with pistols and tried to kill President Harry Truman. But this wasn't about one man or one president—it was about colonialism, nationalism, and whether violence can ever serve justice. The story is more complex than most people know.
In this episode, we explore:
The colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico that fueled nationalist rage
Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola's motivations and tactical planning
The firefight at Blair House that left one officer and one assassin dead
Why Truman commuted Collazo's death sentence and what that reveals about power
How this assassination attempt connects to ongoing debates about Puerto Rican sovereignty
The indigenous Taíno people were erased from this narrative
What happens when legitimate grievances meet illegitimate methods
About Rich:
I'm the publisher of University Teaching Edition and host of The Daily History Chronicle. I bring a unique perspective as a former investigator with Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a university educator, and someone who believes we can hold multiple truths simultaneously. I respect every person for who they are, and I examine history with the same rigor I brought to criminal investigations—evidence-based, non-partisan, and willing to sit with complexity.
This isn't just history. It's about understanding how colonialism shapes resistance, how violence intersects with justice, and why the indigenous people at the center of these conflicts are so often forgotten. Both things can be true: colonial oppression is real, and assassination attempts don't solve it.
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