Secret Service Agent Larry Buendorf, Who Saved President Ford, Passes Away at 87

Larry Buendorf, Lifesaving Secret Service Agent, Passes Away at 87

Larry Buendorf, the Secret Service agent recognized for saving President Gerald R. Ford’s life during a 1975 assassination attempt in California, passed away at the age of 87 at his home in Colorado Springs. His wife, Linda, announced his death on Sunday.

Buendorf’s heroic act occurred on September 5, 1975, when he thwarted an assassination attempt by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson. Ford, rejecting the safety of his limousine outside Sacramento’s Senator Hotel, stepped into the street to greet a crowd of supporters on his way to the State Capitol. As Buendorf stood beside him, he noticed Fromme, positioned just behind the crowd, attempting to raise a .45-caliber handgun from her ankle holster.

Reflecting on that fateful day, Buendorf recounted in a 2010 interview for the President Gerald R. Ford Oral History Project, “My position was right at his shoulder.” He described how he instinctively acted upon recognizing the threat: “I yelled out ‘Gun!’ when I saw it coming up, and I popped that .45 out of her hand.”

In that critical moment, as chaos erupted and the crowd screamed, Buendorf grappled with Fromme, mindful of the potential danger and the lack of protective gear on himself. “I don’t have a vest on, I don’t know where the next shot is coming from,” he remembered, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. With the crowd in disarray and confusion reigning, Buendorf succeeded in wresting the weapon from her grasp just as she attempted to pull back the slide of the gun to chamber a round. He described the tension of the moment: “If she’d had a round chambered, I couldn’t have been there in time. It would’ve gone through me and the president.”

Despite her efforts, no shots were fired, and law enforcement swiftly apprehended Fromme, who was then 26 years old. During her trial, Buendorf described her attempts to use the gun, highlighting the immediate danger she posed. In the aftermath of the incident, President Ford was quickly escorted to safety, thanks in large part to Buendorf’s quick thinking and bravery.

Fromme, known for her high-pitched voice, was sentenced to life in prison for her actions but was paroled in 2009. The forced confrontation between Buendorf and Fromme had lasting implications for presidential security in the years that followed.

Buendorf’s life in law enforcement and public service continued after his tenure with the Secret Service. After retiring in 1993, he became the chief security officer for the United States Olympic Committee, a role he held until 2018. His responsibility encompassed ensuring the safety of athletes, particularly during precarious moments such as the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he managed security following a bomb threat that resulted in casualty.

Describing Buendorf, Harvey Schiller, the former chief executive officer of the Olympic Committee, referred to him as “a real hero who was universally loved and trusted.” Such endorsements highlight Buendorf’s legacy not just as a protector of the president but as an esteemed figure in the security community.

Born on November 18, 1937, in Wells, Minnesota, Buendorf was the son of Merle, who managed a local furniture store, and Ruby (Meyer) Buendorf. He navigated through life as a dedicated student and leader during his high school years, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Mankato State College in 1959. Following his education, he served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot during the Vietnam War before transitioning to a career with the Secret Service.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Buendorf applied to both the Secret Service and the FBI and chose to remain with the Secret Service. He began his service in the Chicago field office before joining the Presidential Protective Division in Washington, D.C. He played critical roles in protecting Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter during a tumultuous era in American politics. Throughout his 27 years with the Secret Service, he received numerous accolades for his valor, including the U.S. Treasury Meritorious Service Award and the U.S. Secret Service Valor Award.

Mr. Buendorf’s legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He is survived by his second wife Linda, a daughter named Kimberly from a previous marriage, and a stepdaughter named Stephanie, along with three grandchildren. Even after his retirement, Buendorf maintained a close friendship with Ford, often reaching out to him on the anniversary of the assassination attempt.

His contributions to public safety, both in protecting the president and his later work at the Olympic Committee, remain a testament to his courage and dedication to serving the country. His actions that day in 1975 not only safeguarded President Ford but reshaped policies on presidential security for generations to come.