Teddy Roosevelt’s “Bullet” Speech
November 6, 2026 6:50am
Teddy Roosevelt was a sturdy sort, and nothing as trifling as a wee bullet wound was going to stop him from giving a speech. In 1912, he was shot in the chest b...
Teddy Roosevelt was a sturdy sort, and nothing as trifling as a wee bullet wound was going to stop him from giving a speech. In 1912, he was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin while campaigning for a third presidential term in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was fortunate that the bullet hit the case for his glasses in his breast pocket, as well as the thick copy of his speech. Library of Congress reported this update on 2026-11-05 with additional context in the linked source.
5-Second Takeaway
Teddy Roosevelt was a sturdy sort, and nothing as trifling as a wee bullet wound was going to stop him from giving a speech.
Why This Matters
In 1912, he was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin while campaigning for a third presidential term in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was fortunate that the bullet hit the case for his glasses in his breast pocket, as well as the thick copy of his speech.
What Changed
- Library of Congress published this report on 2026-11-05.
- The headline focus is "Teddy Roosevelt’s “Bullet” Speech".
- -This story was written with Elaina Finkelstein, a public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications.
- Teddy Roosevelt was a sturdy sort, and nothing as trifling as a wee bullet wound was going to stop him from giving a speech.
- Roosevelt was shot in the chest on Oct.
- 14, 1912, while running for reelection to the White House.
- He was leaving the Hotel Gilpatrick in Milwaukee, on his way to the city’s auditorium for a campaign speech.
- There was a crowd, and as he was about to step into his automobile, a mentally unstable man named John Schrank pulled out a .38 Colt revolver and shot him at close range.
Key Facts
- Library of Congress published this report on 2026-11-05.
- The headline focus is "Teddy Roosevelt’s “Bullet” Speech".
- -This story was written with Elaina Finkelstein, a public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications.
- Teddy Roosevelt was a sturdy sort, and nothing as trifling as a wee bullet wound was going to stop him from giving a speech.
Key Numbers
- Library of Congress published this report on 2026-11-05.
- 14, 1912, while running for reelection to the White House.
- There was a crowd, and as he was about to step into his automobile, a mentally unstable man named John Schrank pulled out a .38 Colt revolver and shot him at close range.