Following a decade out of formal office, former President Theodore Roosevelt was staging a dramatic political comeback. As the Progressive Party’s candidate in the 1912 election, he was campaigning vigorously against his Republican successor, William Howard Taft, and Democratic contender Woodrow Wilson. It was during one of these campaign stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that Roosevelt came face-to-face with a would-be assassin.
Political and Social Context
The 1912 election was one of the most tumultuous in U.S. political history. Roosevelt’s decision to bolt from the Republican Party and form the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party had split conservative and reformist elements on the right, while Wilson’s Democratic platform was gaining traction with Southern and populist voters. Roosevelt was a larger-than-life figure—hero of San Juan Hill, breaker of trusts, and a symbol of vigorous Americanism.
By October, the campaign trail had grown intense and personal. Roosevelt’s outspoken rhetoric and defiance of traditional party structures had earned him admiration—but also enemies. His challenge to the political establishment, combined with a cult of personality unmatched since Lincoln, made him a lightning rod in an already volatile political landscape.
The Plot
The would-be assassin, John Flammang Schrank, was a 36-year-old Bavarian immigrant who had drifted through cities working menial jobs. Obsessed with Roosevelt, Schrank became increasingly delusional. He claimed to have been commanded in a dream by the ghost of William McKinley, instructing him to avenge McKinley’s assassination by killing Roosevelt—whom Schrank saw as a usurper who violated the American tradition of two presidential terms.
Schrank tracked Roosevelt’s campaign across several states. By mid-October, he had followed him from New Orleans to Chattanooga, then to Chicago, and finally to Milwaukee, where he saw his opportunity.
Timeline
- October 13, 1912: Roosevelt arrives in Milwaukee to give a major campaign speech.
- Evening of October 14, 1912: As Roosevelt exits the Gilpatrick Hotel to enter an open car for his speech at the Milwaukee Auditorium, Schrank steps forward from the crowd.
- ~8:00 PM, October 14: Schrank fires a .38 caliber bullet from a Colt revolver at Roosevelt’s chest from just five feet away.
- Seconds later: Roosevelt staggers but does not fall. The bullet is slowed by his folded 50-page speech and a metal eyeglass case in his breast pocket.
- ~8:15 PM: Despite bleeding, Roosevelt refuses medical treatment and insists on delivering his 90-minute speech before seeking care.
The Assassination Attempt
Schrank’s bullet penetrated Roosevelt’s chest but failed to reach his lung. Doctors later determined the bullet had lodged in a rib, and removing it would be more dangerous than leaving it. Remarkably, Roosevelt assessed the damage on the spot, noting he was not coughing blood—indicating no lung puncture.
Opening with, “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,” Roosevelt proceeded to deliver his full speech, holding his bloodied manuscript as dramatic proof. His voice reportedly faltered only briefly.
Immediate Aftermath
Schrank was immediately tackled by bystanders and arrested. Roosevelt’s bravery was widely reported and likely bolstered public admiration, though he ultimately lost the election. The bullet remained in his body for the rest of his life, a physical reminder of both the attack and his refusal to be cowed by violence.
Investigation and Arrests
John Schrank confessed readily and gave detailed accounts of his motives and actions. He was declared legally insane and committed to the Central State Mental Hospital in Waupun, Wisconsin, where he remained until his death in 1943. No broader conspiracy was ever identified.
Trial and Legal Proceedings
Due to Schrank’s diagnosed paranoia and delusional psychosis, he was found unfit to stand trial. His case never reached court, and he spent over three decades in institutional custody without further incident.
Punishments and Legacy of the Conspirator
Schrank’s punishment was indefinite institutionalization. Though he posed no further public threat, his act became a symbol of both the hazards of unrestrained political zealotry and the precariousness of public life for political figures. Roosevelt’s unflinching response reinforced his image as the embodiment of “the strenuous life.”
Long-Term Impact on the Nation
Roosevelt’s survival and defiant speech became legendary, but the incident also exposed the lack of adequate security for presidential candidates. While there was no formal agency tasked with their protection in 1912, future reforms gradually extended Secret Service coverage to candidates as well as sitting presidents.
The attempt also cast a long shadow over the Progressive campaign. While Roosevelt recovered, the emotional tone of the campaign shifted, and his eventual defeat may have been hastened by concerns over his health and safety.
Controversies and Conspiracy Theories
Unlike other assassination attempts, the Roosevelt shooting has inspired relatively few conspiracy theories. Schrank acted alone, and his own writings confirmed this. However, some contemporary commentators questioned whether Roosevelt’s decision to speak while wounded was genuine courage or calculated theater. Still, few deny the visceral power of the moment.
Primary Source Appendix
- Roosevelt’s original speech manuscript with bullet holes (preserved in the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace Museum)
- Milwaukee police reports and witness testimony from the night of the shooting
- Medical evaluations from Roosevelt’s attending physicians
- John Schrank’s confession and psychiatric evaluations
- Press coverage from The Milwaukee Journal, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune (October 15–17, 1912)