Monday, October 14, 2013

This Day in History: Oct 14, 1912: Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee

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Before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Theodore Roosevelt, the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party, is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel.

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John Schrank: institutionalized for life, 1912 -- While Teddy Roosevelt was campaigning for his second term in Milwaukee, Schrank shot the President at close range, lodging the bullet 3 inches inside his chest (he went on to give the speech he was scheduled to deliver, and died with the bullet still in his chest years later). Schrank was arrested and, during the trial, said that William McKinley had appeared to him in a dream and told him to kill Roosevelt. As a result, the jury deemed he was insane and sentenced him to an asylum.


Schrank's .32-caliber bullet, aimed directly at Roosevelt's heart, failed to mortally wound the former president because its force was slowed by a glasses case and a bundle of manuscript in the breast pocket of Roosevelt's heavy coat--a manuscript containing Roosevelt's evening speech. Schrank was immediately detained and reportedly offered as his motive that "any man looking for a third term ought to be shot."

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Roosevelt, who suffered only a flesh wound from the attack, went on to deliver his scheduled speech with the bullet still in his body. After a few words, the former "Rough Rider" pulled the torn and bloodstained manuscript from his breast pocket and declared, "You see, it takes more than one bullet to kill a Bull Moose." He spoke for nearly an hour and then was rushed to the hospital.

Teddy Roosevelt

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Despite his vigorous campaign, Roosevelt, who served as the 26th U.S. president from 1901 to 1909, was defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson in November. Shrank was deemed insane and committed to a mental hospital, where he died in 1943.



 

 Johnston Emergency Hospital, Milwaukee

Taken from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/theodore-roosevelt-shot-in-milwaukee [14.10.2013]

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