Gunshot wounds

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.

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

President Roosevelt informs Florence Bayard Lockwood La Farge nothing can be done for Corporal Wattis. While Wattis does receive a pension for a gunshot wound, the evidence does not suggest he should be allowed a pension for a hernia and sunstroke. Roosevelt tells La Farge most of the abuses with the pension system are due to cases similar to this, when people request pensions based on injuries that they did not receive during war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-07

Articles include information on President McKinley’s condition following being shot by Leon F. Czolgosz. Other segments include an account of the activity at the Milburn house, international reactions to the shooting, and information on Leon F. Czolgosz.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1901-09-09

Theodore Roosevelt stands, one arm aloft, holding his speech with a bullet hole through it in one hand, while holding a bloody handkerchief to his breast in the other.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-10-16

Rumors about Quentin Roosevelt’s death arrived on July 16 but were not confirmed until today. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is suffering and Flora Whitney is brokenhearted. Quentin “died as the heroes of old died.” Congress returned some Nobel Prize money to Roosevelt and he has decided to donate it to the Salvation Army. He agrees with Archie Roosevelt’s thoughts on the government’s failure to prepare for war and that many people, like Quentin, will pay with their blood. Ted Roosevelt was recently injured with a “bullet through his leg.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-21

Mrs. Harry Goff writes on behalf of John B. Goff who is with a client out hunting. John B. Goff was recently injured but will recover and is preparing for Philip Battell Stewart’s arrival in March.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-25