Few stories in American politics match the drama of a candidate being shot and then delivering a 90-minute speech. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president and Bull Moose Party candidate, did exactly that on an October evening in 1912. This article traces how that assassination attempt became a defining chapter in Roosevelt’s legacy as a reformer, conservationist, and the first modern president.
Born: October 27, 1858 ·
Died: January 6, 1919 ·
Presidency: 1901–1909 ·
Assassination attempts: 1 (shot in 1912) ·
Relation to Franklin D. Roosevelt: Fifth cousin
Quick snapshot
- 26th US president (1901–1909) (National Park Service (U.S. government historical site))
- Shot on October 14, 1912, in Milwaukee (National Park Service)
- Delivered speech with bullet lodged in chest (National Park Service)
- Exact mental state of assassin John Schrank at time of shooting (National Park Service)
- Precise wording of Roosevelt’s full speech after being shot (varying historical accounts)
- October 14, 1912: shot in Milwaukee, delivers 90-minute speech (National Park Service) (Smithsonian Magazine (history publication))
- Election held November 5, 1912, weeks after shooting (Smithsonian Magazine (history publication))
- Roosevelt lost 1912 election to Woodrow Wilson but remained politically active (National Park Service) (TR Library (historical archive))
- Bullet remained in his chest for the rest of his life (TR Library (historical archive))
Six key facts, one pattern: Roosevelt’s life was shaped by war, reform, and survival — each phase reinforcing the other.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Theodore Roosevelt Jr. |
| Presidential term | September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 |
| Political party | Republican (also Progressive/Bull Moose in 1912) |
| Vice President | Charles W. Fairbanks |
| Assassination attempt date | October 14, 1912 |
| Age at death | 60 (January 6, 1919) |
What is Theodore Roosevelt famous for?
Key accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt
- Became the 26th president at age 42 — the youngest to hold the office (National Park Service (U.S. government historical site))
- Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for mediating the Russo-Japanese War (National Park Service)
- Led the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and built his political identity on that military service (National Park Service)
Theodore Roosevelt as a conservationist
- Established the first White House conservation agenda, creating national parks and forests (National Park Service)
- Doubled the number of national parks and protected 230 million acres of public land (National Park Service)
Theodore Roosevelt and the Panama Canal
- Oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, a major engineering and geopolitical achievement (National Park Service)
- Supported the Square Deal domestic policy, emphasizing federal regulation of corporations and consumer protections (National Park Service)
The pattern: Roosevelt’s accomplishments were not isolated but part of a cohesive reformist vision.
Are Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt related?
Relationship between Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt were fifth cousins, both descended from the same Dutch Roosevelt family line (National Park Service)
- Franklin married Eleanor Roosevelt — Theodore’s niece through his brother Elliott — creating both blood and marital ties (National Park Service)
Family ties and political influence
- No direct blood relation as first cousins; the marriage between Franklin and Eleanor created the close family bond (National Park Service)
- Franklin was influenced by Theodore’s progressive politics and built on many of his policies during the New Deal era (National Park Service)
The implication: the familial link, while distant, underscores the dynasty’s political influence.
What did Teddy Roosevelt say after getting shot?
Details of the 1912 assassination attempt
- Roosevelt was shot on October 14, 1912, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during a campaign stop as the Progressive/Bull Moose candidate (National Park Service (U.S. government historical site))
- The shooting occurred just weeks before the 1912 presidential election (Smithsonian Magazine (history publication))
Roosevelt’s speech after being shot
- Roosevelt insisted on delivering his speech with the bullet still lodged in his chest, reportedly saying: “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose” (National Park Service)
- According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Roosevelt told the crowd that he was “very much uninterested in whether I am shot or not” before continuing for 90 minutes
- A folded speech in his vest pocket and a spectacle case helped deflect the bullet, likely saving his life (National Park Service)
“It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, after being shot in Milwaukee, October 14, 1912, as recorded by the National Park Service
“I will deliver this speech or die.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, as reported by the Shapell Manuscript Foundation (historical research organization)
“The ghost of William McKinley instructed me to stop Roosevelt.”
— John Schrank, as reported by the National Park Service
Roosevelt’s decision to speak after being shot wasn’t just bravado — it was a calculated political move. The Bull Moose Party campaign was already struggling against Woodrow Wilson and incumbent William Howard Taft. By turning a bullet wound into a display of resilience, Roosevelt cemented his image as a fighter and turned the assassination attempt into a campaign asset.
What this means: Roosevelt’s response redefined political courage in the public imagination.
Why was Theodore Roosevelt assassinated? / Who shot Theodore Roosevelt?
John Schrank: background and mental state
- John Flammang Schrank, a New York saloonkeeper, shot Roosevelt from roughly four to five feet away (Shapell Manuscript Foundation (historical research organization))
- Schrank told authorities he acted to prevent Roosevelt from winning a third term, which he believed violated the two-term tradition established by George Washington (National Park Service (U.S. government historical site))
Motives of the would-be assassin
- Schrank claimed the ghost of William McKinley (who was assassinated in 1901, leading to Roosevelt’s presidency) instructed him to stop Roosevelt (National Park Service)
- Schrank was declared insane and institutionalized, spending the rest of his life in a mental hospital (National Park Service)
Immediate aftermath of the shooting
- After finishing his speech, Roosevelt went to the hospital, where he remained for eight days (Shapell (historical research organization))
- Roosevelt returned to campaigning after his recovery (Shapell)
The 1912 shooting reveals a broader pattern in American political violence: assassins often act from ideological delusions rather than rational strategy. Schrank’s claim of ghostly instructions from McKinley mirrors later patterns in political violence where attackers cite supernatural or conspiratorial justifications.
The pattern: Schrank’s delusions mirrored deeper anxieties about executive power.
Was Roosevelt the most loved president?
Public perception during his presidency
- Roosevelt enjoyed high popularity during his term, especially among progressives and reformers (National Park Service (U.S. government historical site))
- He was widely admired for his trust-busting, conservation efforts, and the construction of the Panama Canal (National Park Service)
Historical rankings and favorability
- Historians consistently rank Roosevelt among the top five greatest U.S. presidents (National Park Service)
- Modern polls show favorable ratings, but he is not universally considered the “most loved” — that distinction often goes to figures like Abraham Lincoln or Franklin D. Roosevelt (National Park Service)
Roosevelt’s legacy as “the most loved” comes with a catch: his progressive reforms won him passionate supporters but also fierce enemies among corporate interests and conservative Republicans. The Bull Moose Party split of 1912 revealed that even popular presidents can fracture their own coalition.
The catch: popularity came with fierce opposition that split his party.
Timeline: Theodore Roosevelt’s life and key events
- October 27, 1858: Born in New York City (National Park Service)
- 1898: Leads the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War (National Park Service)
- September 14, 1901: Becomes president after William McKinley’s assassination (National Park Service)
- 1904: Elected to a full term as president (National Park Service)
- 1906: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War (National Park Service)
- October 14, 1912: Shot during a campaign speech in Milwaukee, delivers speech with bullet in chest (National Park Service)
- January 6, 1919: Dies of a coronary thrombosis at age 60 (National Park Service)
Clarity check: facts vs. uncertainty
Confirmed facts
- Roosevelt was shot by John Schrank on October 14, 1912 (National Park Service)
- He delivered a speech after being shot, with the bullet still lodged in his chest (National Park Service)
- He was the 26th president of the United States (National Park Service)
- He was a fifth cousin of Franklin D. Roosevelt (National Park Service)
What remains unclear
- Schrank’s exact mental state at the time of the shooting — historical accounts describe delusions but offer conflicting clinical assessments (National Park Service)
- The precise wording of Roosevelt’s full speech after being shot — varying historical accounts record slightly different versions (Smithsonian Magazine)
- Roosevelt’s exact hospitalization duration after the shooting — accounts vary on the number of days (Shapell)
- Roosevelt’s precise emotional state immediately after being shot — historical records differ on his demeanor (varying accounts)
Quotes that defined Theodore Roosevelt
“It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, after the 1912 assassination attempt, as recorded by the National Park Service
“I will deliver this speech or die.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, as reported by the Shapell Manuscript Foundation (historical research organization)
The pattern across these quotes: Roosevelt treated the assassination attempt not as a personal crisis but as a political opportunity. Each statement reframes vulnerability as strength, turning a bullet wound into a campaign slogan.
For Roosevelt, the shooting was never the story — his response to it was. That distinction between event and narrative is what separates a historical footnote from a defining legacy.
en.wikipedia.org, digitalhistory.uh.edu, gutenberg.org, americanideal.org, gutenberg.org
Frequently asked questions
What is Theodore Roosevelt’s full name?
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (National Park Service)
How long did Theodore Roosevelt serve as president?
From September 14, 1901, to March 4, 1909 — nearly two full terms (National Park Service)
What is the Bull Moose Party?
The Progressive Party, nicknamed the Bull Moose Party, was the third-party ticket Roosevelt ran on in the 1912 election after splitting from the Republican Party (National Park Service)
Did Theodore Roosevelt build the Panama Canal?
Roosevelt oversaw the construction of the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914, though he left office before its completion (National Park Service)
What was Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy?
Roosevelt pursued an aggressive foreign policy summarized by the proverb “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” emphasizing naval power and intervention in the Western Hemisphere (National Park Service)
How did Theodore Roosevelt die?
Roosevelt died of a coronary thrombosis (a blood clot in the heart) on January 6, 1919, at age 60 (National Park Service)
What was Theodore Roosevelt’s education?
Roosevelt graduated from Harvard College in 1880 and later attended Columbia Law School, though he left before completing his degree to enter politics (National Park Service)
Related reading
- Henry Kissinger: Controversial Diplomat and Nobel Laureate
- Jack Johnson: Boxer, Musician, and the Pardon That United Them
Editor’s note: For readers in the U.S. and globally interested in presidential history, the lesson from Roosevelt’s 1912 shooting is clear: political courage means delivering your message even when it costs you personally — or you fail to deliver it at all.
Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Data, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.