the President's would-be 'assassin' [=the person who tried to kill the President]
He's a hired 'assassin'. [=someone hired to kill someone]
John Wilkes Booth was the 'assassin' of Abraham Lincoln.
(..) - Yeah! He won't eat it. He hates everything. The extraordinary incident occurred in full view of his millions of viewers. The assassins were members of the Ecumenical Liberation Army... two of whom were apprehended. The leader of the group known as the Great Ahmed Khan escaped. (..)1976 Network
(..) ln spite of the two attempts, Mr. Ford says... he will not become a prisoner of the Oval Office... a hostage of would-be assassins. The American people are good people. Democrats, lndependents, Republicans and others. - How do you get mixed up that type? (..)1976 Network