The Assassination of William McKinley

How did I get my name from McKinley? Well, my grandfather was the 9^th son born in his family. He was born in late August, 1901, and was Baby Jester because my great grandfather and grandmother could not decide on a name for him. On the 6^th of September a neighbor rushed in and told the family of the news of McKinley's being shot in Buffalo. Thus, the decision was made. My grandfather was named Major because that was the President's highest rank (brevet Major) when he was mustered out of the Army after the Civil War. And, as you can guess, I was named after my grandfather.

The story of William McKinley's assassination is, like the story of the Assassination of James A Garfield, not well known by most people. Few are even aware that the Spanish American War, lasting 100 days in 1898, was prompted by public sentiment against Spain's resistance to a free Cuba. McKinley read accurately the public wishes, and ended up annexing the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. See the sources listed for further information about the beginnings of what some have called American Imperialism. Now to the story of the death of McKinley.

On September 5, 1901 McKinley was scheduled to give a speech at the Pan American Exposition set up in Buffalo, New York. This Exposition was to "Celebrate 100 Years of Progress" in North and South America. Thomas Edison had recently invented the X-ray machine, and one was set up for viewing in the Exposition Hall. On the next day, September 6^th, President McKinley had allowed a receiving line of sorts to be organized so he could shake hands with the public at a reception being held at the Temple of Music. A Polish anarchist named Leon Czolgosz, (pronounced Tchollgosh), was one of the first in line to greet the President. It was later found that Czolgosz had actually attempted to assassinate McKinley on the 5th of September. An alert security guard had stopped him from approaching McKinley, however. On this day, though, Czolgosz had a .32 caliber revolver hidden in a handkerchief that he had wrapped around his hand. When Czolgosz reached the president, he shot McKinley twice. A coat button deflected one bullet that struck the president in the chest. The second bullet entered the president's stomach, went through the colon and kidney, and lodged in his back. As the president was awaiting physicians, he pleaded to his secretary, "My wife, be careful, Cortelyou, how you tell her-oh, be careful." He also told the aide not to let the crowd harm the assassin Czolgosz.

McKinley was rushed to a nearby hospital, where it was decided that emergency surgery was needed. A Dr. Mann was named to be the best qualified to perform the surgery. McKinley was operated on but Mann could not find the bullet. The president's body was then simply closed up and he was sent to the home of the president of the Exposition to recover. He showed some improvement for a couple of days but then he took a turn for the worse and slipped in and out of a coma for almost a week. McKinley came out of a coma after receiving oxygen on Monday, September 13th. In a weak voice he called for his wife, Ida, but when she arrived he was again unconscious. Around 8 o'clock the President became conscious once again. As his dear Ida grabbed his hand, he said "Nearer my God to thee," after which his eyes closed. Minutes passed as McKinley's life ebbed away. Then he opened his eyes for a final time: He saw the scene around him. A room filled with nurses and doctors with bowed heads waited for the end. Then he focused again on his wife, Ida, and spoke his final words, "Goodbye all; goodbye. It is God's way. His will be done." And thus the 25^th President of the United States died of an infection because of an operation that could not find a bullet. Remember the Exposition? Ironically, Mann and other doctors had refused to use Edison's X-ray machine to find the bullet. They were afraid of what side effects it might have had on the president.

Leon Czolgosz was tried and put to death for his crime. Seconds before he was electrocuted on October 29, 1901, he cried out, "I killed the President because he was the enemy of the good people. I did it for the help of the good people, the working men of all countries."

Sources:
http://www.mckinley.lib.oh.us/mckinley/biography.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williammckinley