Assassination attempt

In a letter to George Perkins, Oscar K. Davis, a reporter and the secretary of the Progressive National Committee, details the assassination attempt on Theodore Roosevelt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912. Davis covers Roosevelt’s decision to leave his presidential train for a hotel in Milwaukee, the subduing of the would be assassin, and Roosevelt’s refusal to go immediately to the hospital. Davis highlights Roosevelt’s insistence on giving his scheduled speech, his dramatic turns at turning away aid, and his subsequent examination and x-ray at a Milwaukee hospital. Davis notes that he wrote the account to counter false stories about the assassination attempt that would appear in newspapers.

The letter is preceded by two introductions by Gregory A. Wynn and William N. Tilchin. Wynn provides the background and context for the letter while Tilchin discusses how he prepared the letter for publication in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Reprints of one page of the original letter and a page from Roosevelt’s bullet damaged speech join a photograph of Roosevelt’s eyeglass case in illustrating the group.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Theodore Roosevelt describes to his son Kermit the attempt on his life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by would-be assassin John Schrank. He explains why he decided to continue with his speech anyway. The letter is signed with Roosevelt’s name by his wife Edith.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-10-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Editorial praises Theodore Roosevelt as an “apostle of democracy” who has fallen at the hands of a killer.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1912-10-17

Creator(s)

Unknown

Article regarding the attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1912-10-15

Creator(s)

Unknown

The articles are entitled as follows: “Socialist in “Milwaukee Shoots Roosevelt!”, “Mrs. Roosevelt Hears of Attack In Theater”, “Perkins Recalls Master Words of Colonel Roosevelt”, “Munsey Calls Attack on Colonel Monstrous”, “Roosevelt Assures His Wife He Is In No Danger”, “Dixon Attributes Crime to the Privileged Class”, “Physicians Say the Wound Is Not In Vital Spot”, “Roosevelt Orders Police to Rescue Assassin From Crowd”, “Taft Expresses Regret At Shooting of Roosevelt”, “Shame Says Wickersham”, “Lipton Deeply Regretful”, “Stain Upon Nation”, “Roosevelt in 1907 Nearly Hit By Bullet”, “Roosevelt’s First Remark One of Pity For Assailant”, “Progressive Leaders At First Think Shooting Reports False”, “Washington Deeply Shocked by News of Attack on Colonel”, “Oscar S. Straus Shocked, Telegrams Sympathy”, “Governor Wilson Glad Wound Isn’t Dangerous”, “Assassin Incensed by New York Herald and World”, “Broadway Crowds Shocked At News of the Shooting”, “Glad No Harm Was Done Says President”, “Senator Dixon Tells Nature of Wound”, “All Taft Hope Gone”, “Killing Roosevelt Could Not Kill HIs Great Cause”

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1912-10-15

Creator(s)

Unknown

Mascots for Progressives, Republicans, and Democrats unite in showing admiration for Theodore Roosevelt after he was shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the 1912 presidential campaign.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1912-10-17

Creator(s)

McCutcheon, John T. (John Tinney), 1870-1949

A. L. Drummond updates George B. Cortelyou with some further information he received from his informant. The informant met with another person who had previously spoken threateningly about ex-president William McKinley, and who was now predicting that someone would try to assassinate President Roosevelt. Drummond believes he has identified the location in which the conversation took place in Brooklyn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-25

Creator(s)

Drummond, A. L. (Andrew Lewis), 1845-1921

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Viscount Grey for his letter and sympathizes with his party’s political situation. Roosevelt has no regrets about losing the 1912 presidential election but worries that not seizing the current opportunity to fight for social and industrial justice will have negative ramifications in the future. Changing topics, Roosevelt writes about the need to fight on heroically after an attempted assassination, recounting his own story about finishing his speech. Finally, Roosevelt is relieved that Sir Cecil Spring-Rice is likely to succeed Ambassador James Bryce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear from Sir Alfred E. Pease and learn of his recent marriage. He describes the attempt on his life as a “mere trifle” compared to Pease’s hunting experiences. Roosevelt made a “good fight” during the presidential election and has no regrets. Governor Woodrow Wilson could not be defeated as his candidacy “satisfied all sections of the Democratic Party” but President William H. Taft was beaten.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks John Campbell Greenway for the letter and for his “unflinching loyalty.” He believes that Greenway overestimates his conduct during the shooting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Herbert David Croly for the kind letter. Roosevelt has many matters he wishes to discuss with Croly after the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-30

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, Frank Harper thanks John C. Sherman for the letter and for supporting the Progressive Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-22

Creator(s)

Harper, Frank, 1882-1971

Theodore Roosevelt expresses his concern for J. Pierpont Morgan about the recent attempt on his life at his residence in Glen Cove. Roosevelt sends his regards to Mrs. Frances Tracy Morgan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt compliments John St. Loe Strachey on a recent editorial, but wishes to offer his own evaluation of John Flammang Schrank, the man who attempted to assassinate him. Schrank, Roosevelt says, was not a madman, but “was a man of the same disordered brain which most criminals, and a great many non criminals, have.” Roosevelt does not necessarily have any negative feeling towards Schrank, but instead focuses on the people who, “by their ceaseless and intemperate abuse, excited him to action, and against the mushy people who would excuse him and all other criminals once the crime has been committed.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Senator Davis for the letters he has sent. Roosevelt recognizes that the letters will only be of use while Senator Baxter is alive and is going to see if he can get them published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Judge Backus and appreciates the attitude he had throughout. (Backus committed Roosevelt’s attempted assassin, John Flammang Schrank, to a mental institution.) Roosevelt would like to see Backus if he is ever in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt will send Madeleine Z. Doty’s letter to Dr. Alexander Lambert about taking the bullet out. Doty is now in charge of the Legislative Bureau for Women and Children. When Doty is out of the hospital, Roosevelt will have lunch with her to talk things over.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Viscount Grey for his letter and sympathizes with his party’s political situation. Roosevelt has no regrets about losing the 1912 presidential election but worries not seizing the current opportunity to fight for social and industrial justice will have negative ramifications in the future. Changing topics, Roosevelt writes to Viscount Grey about the need to fight on heroically after an attempted assassination, recounting his own story about finishing his speech. Finally, Roosevelt is relieved that Sir Cecil Spring-Rice is looking like the man likely to succeed Ambassador Bryce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt expresses shock at the attempted assassination of Francis J. Heney. The attempt on Heney’s life illustrates the true character of the struggle that Rudolph Spreckels and his associates face in trying to stop corruption and violent crime.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt congratulates Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, as well as Queen Victoria Eugenia, on their recent escape from an assassination attempt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919