Murdering Mckinley

“The march of events rules and overrules human action,” William McKinley’s own words would soon become foretelling for his presidency. On September 6, 1901, at the Pan American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York, President William McKinley reached for another handshake two large bangs interrupted the buzz of voices in the Temple of Music. Eight days later, William McKinley died from his wounds. McKinley’s untimely death shocked the nation and created many changes in the United States as a whole. How and why McKinley was assassinated and what changes occurred due to the death of the President.

One of the greatest American presidents of all time, William McKinley, began his career in politics as a senator. He served here for 14 years, up until he was elected governor of Ohio (Rubel 4). After his time as governor McKinley was elected president of the United States. In Buffalo, New York, an attempt was made on his life by anarchist named Leon Czolgosz (San Francisco Call 2). He died eight days later on September 14, 1901 from gangrene infections in his wounds.

On September 6,1901 President William Mckinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York. He was shaking hands when a 28 year old anarchist named Czolgosz approached him and shot him twice in the chest. Czolgosz was about to fire a third time when finally William’s bodyguards. William was killed because he was the head of what Czolgosz thought was the corrupt government. As the days went by the president's wounds were getting worse and worse. On September 14, Mckinley died. This meant that Vice President Theodore Roosevelt immediately became president. On September 16, Mckinley had his funeral and was transported by train to his hometown of Canton,

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were two America’s greatest presidents. Many know Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of America, face of US currency such as the bronze penny and five-dollar bill, and the President who freed the slaves. JFK was the 35th President of America, household favorite, and the President who saved the world from nuclear destruction. But deep inside the walls of the White House, the two Presidents had other motives for that occurred during their term and many people believe that it led to both of their assassination. JFK and Abraham Lincoln were American Icons, and their secret past seem to hurt their legacy in the afterlife.

When he shook one man’s hand, Leon Czolgosz, he was shot in the stomach by the gun he had tucked underneath bandages on his hand. This man, a strong anarchist, wanted to completely dispatch all government. After he was shot, he told security not to hurt his assassin. His first concern, though, was for his wife. His extreme devotion towards her led him to tell security to “be careful how you tell her.” McKinley died 8 days after being shot. He died because the bullet in his stomach could not be found, and got infected. Luckily though, after hearing about her husband’s death, Ida remained strong. William is the only reason that she had lasted this long, because he “refused to let her go.” Ida died a year later at age 59. Czolgosz was executed by the electric chair in

presidency we can see the events that shaped him as a person and an American leader.

President William McKinley wore many “hats” throughout his presidency; they included Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Economic Chief, Chief Legislator, and Commander in Chief. McKinley had to deal with both domestic and foreign affairs during his presidency. Some domestic issues that rose during his term were race relations; labor relations, and

Born in 1843, William McKinley was raised in Ohio under a family that had strong ties to the Whig Party. The first notable events that occurred during his life were during the Civil War. During the Civil War, McKinley began writing papers. He was able to have one of his papers published that stressed how important the Union’s cause was. This letter was published. Later he met his lifelong friend, Major Rutherford Hayes, who would motivate and influence him throughout his life. After the war McKinley served in an attorney’s office in Ohio. The year after this, he applied to and was accepted to Albany Law School. After a year of studies he moved to Canton where established a small office and met his new partner, George W. Belden, a prominent lawyer and former judge. It was here that William McKinley began giving political speeches. He spoke on the behalf of Hayes, thus showing his first true step in the world of politics. Soon after, he became a prosecuting attorney in Stark County, Ohio. This was an outstanding accomplishment because the prosecuting attorney was almost always a Democrat. Finally, McKinley decided to campaign for his spot in Congress. All of the previously stated events were used to prepare McKinley for his tenure into the House of Representatives in 1877.

William McKinley was our 25th great president. He did many wonderful things such as leading America to victory in war with Spain. Some of his other concerns while in office include: domestic affairs, tariff legislation, race relations, trust regulation, and foreign affairs. He had a good life and served as an amazing president during his time in the Whitehouse until his assassination.

I know that President McKinley was the 25th president of the United States and was only the 3rd president to be assassinated up until this time. This was never a widely coved topic in any of my previous history classes so I’m coming into this project with virtually no former knowledge.

It takes years to build things up, but only seconds to tear it down. At the world’s fair, a place for exhibiting America’s innovation in technology and education, called the Pan American Exposition, in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901 this is exactly what happened. Leon Czolgosz decided to take his hatred for politics and love for anarchy into his own hands and shot President William McKinley two times at close range, killing him a week later. America changed in that very instant; the country went from being optimistic of the new 20th century to reliving the horror and pain of the dreadful 19th all because of one man’s radical actions. Leon Czolgosz was a regular middle class worker, and he, like many others, was angered by the widening

Considering the fact that he led office under the conditions left behind by George Washington greatly compromised what he had expected. In other words, his abilities were challenged having to deal with the mess of the previous occupant. He was tested greatly. In some, he failed. In others, he succeeded and rose above the occasion.

This year for history summer reading I decided to read Assassination Vacation by Sarah vowell. The book Assassination Vacation was a book about the assassinations of President Lincoln, President Garfield and President Mckinley. During the novel the author Sarah Vowell visits important places to these assassinations whether they be Lincoln memorial, Fords theater, or even a graveyard with her nephew kinda of like road trip or a vacation . While you see what her experiences are like during this vacation she tells you how all three presidents got assassinated with some humor. So overall I thought that it was a very good book. Throughout the book I found quotes that were either surprising, interesting,

He was also very brave by freeing the slaves according to History.com. Knowing he put his life on the line at that very second he still did it. This is another reason why he is probably one of the most presidents. No body even realist

We mourned the death of President William McKinley in 1901 after being assassinated. It was my fate of becoming the youngest President to take the office. Many people questioned my bold personality some accused me of bigotry. Me? Teddy Roosevelt? I prefer to be known as “TR”, the President to be known in history (1901-1909) as “The American Lion.” Our new President brought passion and power to the office, courageously leading the American people and Congress toward progressive reforms in history.