The Chilling Tale of Deception: When a Presidential Assassin Married Into an American Family

The Unfolding Tragedy

In what reads like a political thriller, the story of Philip Chase, a retired psychologist and World War II veteran, and his marriage to Sara Jane Moore represents one of the most disturbing examples of how dangerous ideologies can infiltrate American families. The narrative begins in 2010 when Chase, bereft after losing his wife of 60 years, followed his daughter Suzy’s suggestion to try online dating. On eHarmony, he met a woman who presented herself as Sarah Kahn from Pennsylvania - charming, well-read, and sharing his birthday. Within months, this relationship would unravel the Chase family’s foundation.

What Phil Chase didn’t know - and what his children discovered through frantic research - was that Sarah Kahn was actually Sara Jane Moore, the woman who on September 22, 1975, attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford with a .38 caliber revolver. She had served more than 30 years in federal prison and had been paroled just three years before meeting Chase. This revelation sparked a family crisis that would last years and ultimately lead to estrangement, legal battles, and profound emotional damage.

Historical Context and Background

Sara Jane Moore’s history reads like a catalog of instability and dangerous behavior. Born Sara Jane Kahn in 1930, she displayed troubling behavior from childhood, described by teachers as “a little odd” and unable to connect with peers while demanding center stage. Her adult life continued this pattern - multiple failed marriages, abandoning multiple children, and a gradual descent into political extremism during the turbulent 1970s.

Moore’s path to attempted assassination involved working as an FBI informant while simultaneously aligning herself with revolutionary groups. Her actions occurred during a period of intense political violence in America, following the assassinations of the 1960s, Vietnam War protests, and Watergate. The climate enabled dangerous figures like Moore to gravitate toward violent acts while maintaining a seemingly ordinary exterior.

Her attempt on President Ford’s life was particularly chilling - missing her target by inches before being subdued by a former Marine. Even after her arrest, Moore showed little contrition, famously stating, “There comes a point when the only way you can make a statement is to pick up a gun.”

The Family Dynamics Unravel

The Chase family faced an impossible situation: how to reconcile their loving, rational father with a woman who had tried to kill a sitting president. Phil Chase, despite his psychology background and decades of professional experience, refused to see Moore as anything other than a reformed individual who had “paid her debt to society.” His children Suzy and Cru recognized the danger immediately but found themselves powerless against their father’s determination and Moore’s manipulation.

Moore systematically isolated Chase from his family, controlling his communications, making chilling comments about her assassination attempt, and even claiming she would have succeeded with better weapon sighting. She manipulated estate planning, gradually increasing her share of assets while cutting out Chase’s children. The family’s treasured heirlooms, including Phil’s late wife’s paintings and even Phil’s ashes, became bargaining chips in a painful posthumous legal battle.

A Sobering Commentary on Vulnerability and Protection

This tragedy represents far more than just a family dispute - it speaks to fundamental questions about how we protect vulnerable members of our society while respecting their autonomy. Phil Chase’s loneliness after losing his wife of six decades made him exceptionally vulnerable to manipulation. His professional background as a psychologist ironically made him more susceptible to Moore’s charms, as he believed he could diagnose and understand her behavior.

The case raises urgent questions about online dating safety, particularly for elderly individuals who may be less technologically savvy or more trusting. While dating platforms have revolutionized how people connect, this story serves as a stark warning about the potential for dangerous individuals to exploit these systems. The responsibility falls on families, platforms, and society to implement better safeguards.

From a constitutional perspective, Moore’s continued freedom despite her demonstrated dangerousness raises serious questions about parole systems and monitoring of individuals with histories of political violence. Her ability to travel internationally without notifying her parole officer demonstrates alarming gaps in our security apparatus that could have catastrophic consequences.

The Human Cost of Ideological Violence

What makes this story particularly heartbreaking is the human cost exacted on the Chase family. Phil’s children watched helplessly as their father was manipulated and isolated. The family’s values of honesty and openness were systematically undermined by Moore’s deception and their father’s willingness to accept her fabricated narrative.

The emotional toll was immense - Suzy developed cancer during this period and attributes the stress to the family situation. Cru was barred from visiting his father’s home because of his own decades-old drug conviction, which Moore weaponized against him. The father-son relationship suffered a three-year rupture that left Phil physically shaking at the mention of his son’s name.

This case demonstrates how the consequences of political violence extend far beyond the immediate act. Moore’s attempt on President Ford’s life created ripple effects that destroyed a family forty years later. It serves as a reminder that acts against our democratic institutions have lasting consequences that can reverberate through generations.

Lessons for American Society

As a society committed to democracy and freedom, we must confront difficult questions raised by this case. How do we balance the rehabilitation of offenders with protection of potential victims? What responsibilities do dating platforms have to screen for dangerous individuals? How can families intervene when elderly loved ones make dangerous choices while respecting their autonomy?

The Chase family’s ordeal underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance against those who would undermine our social fabric. Moore’s ability to infiltrate a stable American family demonstrates how threats to our democracy can come from unexpected directions, wearing friendly faces while harboring dangerous ideologies.

This story also highlights the need for better support systems for families dealing with elderly parents making questionable relationship choices. The Chases had limited legal recourse and struggled with how to protect their father without violating his rights as an autonomous adult.

Conclusion: Protecting Our Foundations

The tragedy of Philip Chase and his family serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities in our social systems and the enduring threat posed by those who would attack our democratic institutions. It reminds us that freedom requires constant vigilance - not just at the political level, but within our own families and communities.

As Americans committed to liberty and democracy, we must ensure that our systems protect the vulnerable while holding accountable those who would exploit them. The Chase family’s pain should serve as a call to action for better safeguards, more compassionate interventions, and renewed commitment to protecting the foundations of our society from those who would do it harm.

In the end, this story is about more than one family’s tragedy - it’s about preserving the values that make America strong against those who would undermine them, whether through political violence or personal manipulation. We must learn from these lessons to build a society that is both free and safe for all citizens.