TR SHOT IN MILWAUKEE

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1743

TR SHOT ON CAMPAIGN IN MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (JFK+50) A century and three years ago, October 14, 1912, former President of the United States and Progressive or "Bull Moose" Party nominee in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, was shot while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel here in Milwaukee.

At 8 p.m. local time, TR was shot in the chest from a distance of 5 feet as he stood in his open car waving his hat to the crowd. 

A 32-caliber bullet passed through his glasses case and folded manuscript which were in his breast pocket. Roosevelt's stenographer was able to grab the assailant before more shots could be fired.

TR refused to be taken to a hospital until he completed his scheduled speech.
With worried aides standing by ready to catch him if he passed out, TR told the astonished crowd...

"Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.  I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot."

Despite the wound, Roosevelt went on to speak for an hour and at one point pulled the bloody manuscript from his pocket, held it up for the audience to see, and said: "It takes more than one bullet to kill a Bull Moose."

After finishing his speech, TR was taken to the hospital.  Although he recovered, the doctors determined it was best not to attempt to remove the bullet.

The shooter was an unemployed New York saloon-keeper named John Schrank.  The 36 year old man was later determined to be insane and was committed to an asylum in Wisconsin. 

SOURCE

"Shot in the Chest 100 Years Ago, Teddy Roosevelt Kept on Talking," by Christopher Klein, October 12, 2012, History, www.history.com/

TR in Milwaukee

 October 14, 1912

"IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE BULLET TO KILL A BULL MOOSE"

October 14, 2013

TR SHOT ON "BULL MOOSE" CAMPAIGN IN MILWAUKEE 101 YEARS AGO TODAY

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (JFK+50) Former President of the United States and Progressive or Bull Moose Party presidential nominee in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, was shot 101 years ago today, October 14, 1912, while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel here in Milwaukee.

TR was shot in the chest as a 32-caliber bullet passed through his glasses case and folded manuscript which were in his breast pocket.

Despite the wound, the former president went on to speak for 90 minutes and at one point pulled the bloody 50 page manuscript from his pocket, held it up for the audience to see, and  said...

 "It takes more than one bullet to kill a Bull Moose."

Doctors determined the bullet did not penetrate either TR's heart or lung, and therefore decided it would be better to not make an attempt to remove it.

TR, who had broken with Taft and the Republican Party, made only two more speeches during the 1912 campaign.  Woodrow Wilson, the Democrat, took advantage of the split in the Republican Party and won the Election of 1912.

The man who shot TR, John Schrank*,  was found insane and committed to the Central State Mental Hospital in Waupun, Wisconsin.

                          TR in Milwaukee

                           October 14, 1912

John Schrank (1876-1943) was born in Bavaria and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 9.  He turned to religion after the death of both parents and the aunt and uncle who had then cared for him as a youth.

After his attempt on TR's life, a note was discovered written by Schrank beforehand which indicated that he had been told by the ghost of President McKinley to "avenge" his death.

Schrank died of natural causes in Wisconsin.

John Schrank

Milwaukee (1912)

JFK SENDS LETTER TO CHANCELLOR ADENAUER

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The White House released 50 years ago today, October 14, 1963, a letter from President John F. Kennedy to retiring West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

The President writes:

"You have created in your own land a stable, free and democratic society which stands in sharp contrast to the repression still enforced on so many of your countrymen."

                   Konrad Adenauer
                  February 25, 1955
            Photo by Rolf Unterberg
            German Federal Archive

SENATOR KENNEDY WELCOMED TO ANN ARBOR

Ann Arbor, Michigan (JFK+50) 53 years ago today, October 14, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy, coming from his third televised debate with Richard M. Nixon, was welcomed here in Ann Arbor at 2 o'clock in the morning.

JFK was greeted by 10,000 students of the University of Michigan.

The Senator did not give a formal speech but spoke for 3 minutes.

JFK began by saying...

"Thanks to you, as a graduate of the Michigan of the East, Harvard University....."

Senator Kennedy then asked...

How many of you who are going to be doctors are willing to spend your days in Ghana?  

Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service?

(Are you willing) to contribute part of your life to this country?"

This was the first public reference by JFK to his plans for a Peace Corps.

            JFK Speaking at Ann Arbor
                University of Michigan
                      Student Union
            Photo by Ann Arbor News
     www.michigantoday.umich.edu