Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin: Madness, Vengeance, And The Campaign Of 1912

by Gerard Helferich

A New York Times Bestseller!

John Flammang Schrank—a lonely Manhattan saloonkeeper—was obsessed with the 1912 presidential election and Theodore Roosevelt. The ex-president’s extremism and third-term campaign were downright un-American.

Convinced that TR would ignite civil war and leave the nation open to foreign invasion, Schrank answered what he believed to be a divine summons,buying a gun and stalking Roosevelt across seven Southern and Midwestern states, blending into throngs of supporters. In Chattanooga and Chicago, he failed to act. In Milwaukee, on October 14, Schrank crossed TR’s path again—BANG!

Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin is the dynamic unfolding account of the audacious attempt on Roosevelt’s life by a lone and fanatical assailant. Based on original sources including police interrogations, eyewitness testimony, and newspaper reports, the book is above all a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative.

Drawing from Schrank’s own statements and writings, it also provides a chilling glimpse into the mind of a political assassin. Rich with local color and period detail, it transports the reader to the American heartland during a pivotal moment in our history, when the forces of progressivism and conservatism were battling for the nation’s soul—and the most revered man in America traveled across the country campaigning relentlessly against Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Socialist Eugene V. Debs in what historians agree was the first modern American presidential contest.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Presidents, American History, Biography, Biography Memoir, Politics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Gerard Helferich, a former editor and publisher, is the author of "Humboldt's Cosmos: Alexander von Humboldt and the Latin American Journey That Changed the Way We See the World." He lives with his wife in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and San Miguel Allende, Mexico.

Reviews

[Tim Baze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theodore Roosevelt is my favorite president. Hands down. There is not even a close second. I have read the biographies of him by Miller and Morris. They are very good mostly because their subject is simply fascinating.
Roosevelt served two terms and then chose not to run for a consecutive third term. His friend, Taft became the next president. Four years later, Roosevelt then decided to run against him as part of the Bull Moose party in 1912. He split the Republican vote and Woodrow Wilson was elected as a democrat that year.

This book follows Roosevelt through the last month or so of his campaign by train through the United States. It also follows the path of another man who would also travel thousands of miles to eventually get close enough to Roosevelt to shoot him two weeks before election day.

It seems hard to imagine today a presidential candidate being shot and then insisting on delivering his speech scheduled for that evening. But this is exactly what Roosevelt did. He stood at a podium before thousands of people and spoke for eighty incredible minutes in what was mostly progressive campaign rhetoric, but also a few jokes about being wounded an hour before.

Quite a different time in our history, and quite a different type of man who wanted to be our president.

[Aaron Million · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helferich tells an interesting, though not particularly contextual, story of the attempted assassination of ex-President Theodore Roosevelt during the latter stages of the 1912 presidential campaign. This is an episode that has received surprisingly little attention over the years (somewhat similar to the attempted assassination of FDR in Florida while he was President-elect in early 1933). Even Patricia O'Toole, who wrote a very good book about TR's life after the White House When Trumpets Call, devotes only four pages to the entire assassination and its aftermath. Kudos to Helferich for researching this fascinating event.

While Helferich tells the story well, it seems to be more from the angle of how a reporter would write it - a step-by-step retracing of John Flammang Schrank's (the would-be assassin) moves leading up to when he shot TR in Milwaukee. Schrank was a Bavarian immigrant who had migrated to the U.S. at the age of 13, and by 1912 had no living family here and no friends. Supposedly, he had a vivid dream shortly after the assassination of William McKinley, with McKinley sitting up in his casket and pointing out Roosevelt as the mastermind behind the plot, and imploring Schrank to avenge his death. Schrank does nothing about this until Roosevelt attempts to run for a then-unprecedented third term in 1912. Schrank, with the image of the McKinley dream serving as some kind of bizarre impetus, decides that nobody should be president for more than two terms, and thus he will kill Roosevelt to prevent this from happening. Helferich then alternately follows Schrank and Roosevelt throughout September and October 1912, the former stalking the Bull Moose in the South and then up into the Midwest before seizing his chance in Milwaukee, the latter as he campaigns exhaustively across the country, running on the newly-founded Progressive Party.

While Helferich kept the story interesting, he seems to lack the vividness and panache displayed by someone such as Erik Larson or David McCullough. It was not riveting; the build-up the event seemed somehow anti-climactic. Schrank shots Roosevelt once, the bullet going into the right side of his chest, breaking a rib, and lodging next to his right lung, but fortunately not puncturing it. Roosevelt's stenographer, Elbert Martin, vaulted over the car door and jumped on Schrank before he could apparently fire a second shot. I am left wondering how Martin would have been able to do that before Schrank could have gotten his second shot off from his .38 caliber revolver. Did Schrank hesitate after the first shot? Helferich does not say. Was Schrank ever asked about this? We do not know as Helferich never mentions it. A second shot may very well have killed Roosevelt; the first shot most likely would have (or at least caused serious internal damage) if not for being partially stopped by Roosevelt's thick speech manuscript wrapped up in his suit coat pocket, and his metal spectacles case.

Incredibly, Roosevelt went on to give an 80 minute speech at the Milwaukee Auditorium right after the shooting! Strangely, Roosevelt did not seem to ever have much of a reaction to being shot; in fact he earlier had all but assumed that someone would try to kill him at some point. Even his daughter Alice seemed surprised that it had taken so long for someone to try to assassinate him. Schrank is ultimately found insane and thus incompetent to stand trial. This was determined based on a five person panel's report of psychiatric and psychological examinations done on Schrank. Helferich does not venture an opinion as to what exactly was asked of Schrank in the interviews conducted by the mental health experts (back then they were called "alienists"). He also does not say if he thinks that Schrank truly was insane, or delusional, or both. Obviously, someone stalking someone such as Schrank did, and coming up with the supposed dream/vision of the dead McKinley ordering him to avenge his death, was not thinking rationally. Yet, Schrank bided his time over a period of several weeks, and put quite a bit of thought into trying to position himself in the best possible space so as to accomplish his mission. Roosevelt himself said that he did not think that Schrank was crazy as he shot him in Wisconsin, a state that did not have the death penalty, versus some of the Southern states where he probably would have been killed by the citizens immediately after firing at Roosevelt.

Grade: B-

[Last Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough Rider's Last Crusade:

This engrossing little book reads like a Tom Clancy thriller, filled with twists and turns as a deranged young man stalks TR across multiple states for one purpose: to kill him. Convinced that TR had a hand in former President William McKinley's assassination in 1901 and that God was sending him on "Divine Mission", John Flammang Schrank would stop a nothing to avenge the death of a man he had never met and to make sure that TR had no chance of ever becoming a "third termer" president. TR had always been an outdoorsman, soldier and hunter, but now, unbeknown to himself, he was the hunted. In "Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin" author Gerard Helferich has written a fast moving chronicle of a pivotal moment in U.S. history and in TR's life as well. At just under 250 pages, on my Kindle, this was a relatively quick read that kept me engrossed the whole time--a real page turner! I also enjoyed seeing the numerous archival photos that illustrate the book. With the 1912 Election Day only months away TR hit the campaign trail. Making stops at major cities throughout the north-east and southern states he would meet with state governors and city fathers, attend large political functions and give rousing speeches to packed convention halls. Between the cities he would make numerous whistle-stops at small towns along the way. Thanks to the press TR's itinerary was well publicized and in this way Schrank was able to follow his every move. Well, almost every move. For most of his adult life TR had been an avid outdoorsman and hunter, but now he was the one being hunted. And, while TR's instincts as a hunter were always in the back of his mind, he had no experience with being the pray and refused to take any special precautions when meeting a new crowd. While following the hunter and the hunted on their fateful journey, the author makes numerous side trips to explore the history of other individuals and institutions that are prominent in the story. This book is not a biography or a in depth history of a point in time but more of a "historical narrative" based on news paper reports, published documents and family records. Be sure to read the Author's Note, Acknowledgement and Sources at the end of the book for insight on Helferich's work. Anyone who has also read "The Destiny of the Republic" by Candice Millard may spot an interesting bit of medical history. In 1880 physicians probed President Garfield's wound with their unsterilized fingers and, 20 years later, physicians in 1901 did the same thing with McKinley's wound. Not much progress there. But in 1912 doctors took a little more care with TR's injury and seemed to be well aware of possible infection. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written book and may check out some of Gerard Helferich's other works as well. I had no technical or formatting problems with this Kindle edition.

Last Ranger

[Francesca Salerno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished TR's autobiography (downloaded from Project Gutenberg onto my Kindle -- anyone who has not explored Project Gutenberg is missing a treasure trove of tens of thousands of free books, all of them with copyrights that expired before 1922 and that are now in the public domain).

Of course TR has been much in the news of late because of Doris Goodwins fabulous exploration of his relationship with William Howard Taft, but that leaves plenty of room in "book space" for lesser known writers like Gerard Helferich to explore smaller, more tightly defined episodes in the great president's life.

Helferich's book succeeds so well because he is able to add the tension of a murder mystery (the creepy stalking of TR by his would-be assassin, John Shrank).

Most interesting of all to me were the putative reasons the deranged Shrank used to justify his presidential murder -- many of them, such as TR's overweening desire to declare war on any nation that gave affront, in his view, to the United States, eminently sensible. This book teaches us that TR is more fun to live with as an historical figure than as a sitting president.

This book will appeal to TR fans, but as a standalone book for someone who knows little or nothing about our 26th president, it may require a bit of additional background context to make it clearly understood.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like non-fiction books that read like fiction you will like this book. An excellent narrative about the man who attempted to kill Roosevelt when running for his third term as president. I think Helferich did a nice job of setting the scene and telling the story. I do think if you have read no other books about T. Roosevelt, you might feel a little lost.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This depicts one of the great episodes in the Teddy Roosevelt legend: the time he gave a speech after being shot. The work reads quickly and provides alternate stories of Roosevelt and his would be assassin. Somewhat similar in set up to Devil in the White City.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction narrative of the near assignation of Theodore Roosevelt. This book was very interesting and I learned so much history of the early 20th century. I had no idea the ex president was shot in his attempt to be elected to a third term as a Progressive candidate. After being out of office Teddy decides he should be president again. But the Republicans think otherwise. It was interesting how he went from Republican to Progressive back to Republican. John Shrank thought otherwise also. This book follows both Teddy and John on the political election trail to when John is finally near enough to take the shot. History shows the bullet hit "The Colonel" and was lodged near a rib. Where Teddy carried it the rest of his life. The book was a little slow in parts and other parts I could not read fast enough. If you are in to and like to learn about history, this is the book for you.

[John Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written non-fiction account of John Schrank's obsessed chase of third part candidate Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, in order to stop him from winning a third term to the Presidency. The finale of Roosevelt's shooting in Milwaukee on October 14 of that year possibly ruined his chances for the third term.
The story carries on to what happened to all the candidates and Schrank's survival to see FDR get a third term. Great story, well done.

[James Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent timeline chronicling the movements of the protagonist and antagonist. Very thorough. Very readable. The epilogue was great historical reference and completed the story. Very good work Gerard!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. learned a lot about the political atmosphere in 1912.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid look at the weeks leading up to the assassination attempt on Teddy Roosevelt during the 1912 Presidential campaign. Certainly more in this book about his attempted assassin, John Schrank, than you will get in any standard biography of Roosevelt.

Well written, though much of the book felt like filler because, frankly, there really isn't all that much primary source information on Schrank. The book followed him as he trailed TR around the country during the final weeks of the campaign, with long sections devoted the campaigns of TR, Wilson and even Eugene Debs.

The section on the actual assassination and aftermath was quite good. Overall definitely worth a read.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my yearly tradition of reading one book about my favorite president Theodore Roosevelt, I selected this book from my personal library to finally read. I liked the structure the author used to weave the dates and locations of TR and his would be assassin, leading up to the fateful day October 14, 1912. As other reviewers have favorably commented, this is a non-fiction book that reads more like a fiction book. If you’re looking to learn more about TR in-depth, you should really start with the Edmund Morris trilogy, but this is a nice follow-on read.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lot of interesting tidbits in this one about the history of the cities these two men cross through and about the state of politics in 1912. Ultimately, though, there does not seem to be a whole lot of story to tell here - Schrank, as it turns out, was a nutbar - and the author's insistence on including thoughts and events that are admittedly speculation in Schrank's point-of-view made me a little hesitant to trust their judgment.

[Christopher A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. some parts were very entertaining, some parts were long and drawn out. Still a good, quick read on an amazing man.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched and thorough. It includes pertinent background on the politics of the time not just Teddy being shot. I definitely understand now why he was called the "Bull Moose!"

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a slog but wonderful overview of the players and the times. I was left with the knowledge that with Politics ……. Nothing is new under the sun.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin: Madness, Vengeance, and the Campaign of 1912 is an amazingly well written and researched book. I have read about President Roosevelt and read his famous book The Rough Riders. I am very familiar with his early life as invalid and his urge to be a man in the west. But this is a chapter in his left that I knew zilch about.

Theodore Roosevelt was a larger than life character, who I would have loved to meet if I had lived in his times. This book brings out his unique personality with all its flaws and brilliance. From this book, I also formed a picture of his assailant, the loner, John Flamming Schrank. He spent a great deal of his time reading newspapers that had a political bent and drinking in bars. John Schrank thought of TR as being a power mad villain who wants to be King. A man who thought shooting TR would be good for the country and that people would eventually thank him.

At first, I thought that this book would be mostly about the man who tied to kill TR but it was a much more in depth picture. The author sets you back in history and the places that the men were. It is also gives you a detailed but succinct history of the four men who ran in this unusual presidential race and why they ran.

The research makes us vividly aware of John Schrank's disturbing dream of President Mckinley rising from his coffin and directing Mr. Schrank to kill TR. We learn about President Theodore Roosevelt's reaction to being shot, how bad it was and the effect on his family. We learn about the rift between President Taft and him and about the Eugene V, Debbs of the Socialist Party, We learn about President Woodrow Wilson.
This book was better than I expected besides the tremendous amount of research about the assassin and the people running for election, we also have insight into their personalities.

I highly recommend this book to all people interested in United States history and especially President Theodore Roosevelt.

I received this book as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings in this review.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin is a good narrative history of the momentous 1912 presidential election. It is a highly readable history that anyone, from general reader to scholar, interested in the Progressive Era and the election of 1912 should find enjoyable.

The author Gerard Helferich follows the paths of Teddy Roosevelt and his campaign and his would be assassin, John Schrank, to their fateful day in Milwaukee. Schrank believed he was chosen to be the man to prevent Roosevelt from becoming a “third-termer”. Schrank believed that if Roosevelt once again became president Roosevelt would more-or-less abolish the constitution, appoint himself king, cause civil war, and destroy the United States. Schrank developed this premise during the years after the assassination of President McKinley and Roosevelt’s announcement to run for a third term. Once the Bull Moose Party was formed Schrank began stalking the ex-president with the intent to kill Roosevelt thus saving America. Schrank’s plan to save America by killing Roosevelt was thwarted in Milwaukee because of Roosevelt’s folded speech and eyeglass case slowing the bullet enough to only wound. Schrank would be committed to an insane asylum in Wisconsin where he lived out his days.

The book also follows the other candidates of the 1912 election giving the reader a useful history of the politics and issues of the era. In addition, the epilogue nicely wraps up what happened to Schrank and the other presidential candidates of the race; Wilson, Roosevelt, Debs, and Taft.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narrative and compelling read on this almost forgotten piece in American history. A true leader in which he will always be known for, Teddy Roosevelt,always put his causes before himself, something very lacking in today's political environment. This narrative will take you across America in the quest of John Schrank to halt "the third termer" in what he believed was the coming of another Civil War and Kingship if Teddy Roosevelt succeeded. One will be inside each character viewing and learning the principles of their causes that shaped the true story so eloquently penned.

The Election of 1912 impact is still felt today, heralded as the main factor that shaped life in America in its present sense. The battle between TR, Woodrow Wilson, Howard Taft and the Socaialist from Terre Haute,Indiana; Eugene V Debs is so powerfully written by Gerald Helferich. The drama includes the battle of the "haves" and "have nots," Women suffrage, equality between the races, workers rights vs Big Corporations, child labor and so much more that propels every American to read this great work. Teddy Roosevelt was one of a kind and such a marvel was he and the gifts he gave to our country that no other political figure has even come close to match.

[Itscire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book that I ever got from Goodreads and overall, it was a pretty good one. :]

As you could tell by the title, this book delves into the Presidential election of 1912 and the attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt. The author does a great job in researching his sources and placing you into this tumultuous period of times. There is great detail and a ton of quotations, which sometimes made things move a little slow, but it really picks up at the end.


Mr. Helferich's book is a great book for history buffs, non-fiction fans or even those who like dramas/thrillers. The story is told from the eyes of Teddy Roosevelt and also of his assassin and it is quite interesting when their paths meet. I learned a lot from this book, which chronicles what many regard to be the first "modern" election.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly readable narrative of the epic 1912 Presidential campaign, largely through the eyes of Theodore Roosevelt's stalker - and of course climaxing with the famous assassination attempt. It's one of the great stories - Roosevelt was shot in the late afternoon, but went on to deliver a rousing ninety minute speech with the bullet still in his chest - and Helferich gives it wonderful political and cultural context.

Roosevelt is a favorite President of mine, but since I'm familiar mostly with the Morris biography, I can't say whether this ground has been covered better elsewhere. The historical detail and research ring true, and the speculative "in the head of the assassin" bits don't annoy like they could if overdone.

An enjoyable, fast-paced read about one of the most fascinating events in American history.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not claim to be a comprehensive historical profile of Roosevelt and Schrank, rather a narrative retelling of the events leading and after Schrank's assassination attempt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is a compelling read and captures the characters and settings well. As a Milwaukeean, I'm pleased to know that this historic event hasn't fallen completely out of membry.

I'd prefer more detailed footnotes/endnotes so that I can better follow the sources and the historical record. I am slightly disappointed that the author admits to performing some of his research remotely, using digital historic newspaper collections, especially since Milwaukee Public Library owns the court transcripts of Schrank's appearances in Milwaukee Municipal Court. Serious T. R. scholars will explore more dense material, but this is a good addition to T. R. lore for generalists.

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun read, but most definitely pop history.

Not much between these covers is new or original, and large sections are essentially reprints of newspaper accounts and memoirs. This means that the perspective on the main actors is external, we watch them move about and are told what others were thinking or feeling rather but not the shooter or the target. Also, it means that throughout the book Roosevelt is called "The Colonel" because that is what others called him at the time, but no one has since. This is annoying.

Still, the interweaving of narratives is well handled, the book is a total popcorn read, meaning there is not a moment where it drags and the most difficult word in the entire text is Roosevelt. A good use of an afternoon.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most fans of Theodore Roosevelt know that he was shot on October 14, 1912. Before going to the hospital, Roosevelt gave an hour and half long campaign speech to thousands of supporters. Another chapter in a legendary life.

In Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin, Gerard Helferich tells the story of John Schrank, and how he pursued Roosevelt on the campaign trail, determined to prevent his election to a third term as President. Helferich weaves in the actions of Roosevelt, his opponents (Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and Eugene Debs) and Schrank in the days and weeks before and after the shooting. The story reads more like a thriller or true-life crime story than a history book.

A fun read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining well-written narrative of T. Roosevelt's campaign swing during Sept. - Oct 1912 and the troubled individual that stalked and ultimately attempted to assassinate him in Milwaukee. It is also in some ways almost a travelogue of American cities (or what those cities were like in 1912). While some readers might find those descriptions perhaps a bit too detailed in places I loved it - the author succeeds in really bringing the people and places to life - which is exactly what I am looking for in a popular history book.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author Gerard Helferich did a fine job of bringing the reader up to date about the political picture prior to 1912. The way he tracked the candidates and Shrank leading up to the day of the assassination attempt was very well done. I also enjoyed the background history on the main characters, thus giving insight to their character, political views and the issues of the day regarding, but not limited to, industry, the labor force, unions. There never seemed to me to be any part in the book that got bogged down with too much discription, it just all flowed very nicely and kept my interest.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got distracted from reading this for about 6 weeks. When, I resumed it was a little tedious. But, the epilogue pulled me back in. Nice wrap-up.
Teddy was quite a character. This book is a summary biography of Roosevelt. The core of the book is about the 1912 presidential campaign and Roosevelt's progressive campaign platform.
The story of John Schrank, who attempted to assassinate Roosevelt was presented as an interesting way to break up what might have been a dry non fiction treatment of the 1912 campaign.

[Chris Meads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the story of Teddy Roosevelt wanting to run for a third term. The assassin is John Schrank who had a dream that President McKinley told him to shoot Roosevelt, to get back at him. Schrank also believed that no president should run for a third term. This story follows the path of both these men and what happens after the 1912 election.

It is well written and in a narrative form that is easy to follow. Gerald Helferich makes it interesting and one can learn about the history of Roosevelt and the political parties of that time in history. A very interesting good read.

[Paul Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Forgotten Story" of the assassin who attempted to kill Teddy as he ran for a 3rd term under the Progressive Banner in 1912 ... is best forgotten. Turns out the same characteristics found in today's serial killers (lack of social connections and delusions of grandeur) were found in the early 20th century as well. Nothing much else to say. Looking forward to reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's coverage of this same frenetic period of American History (Bully Pulpit - just published). Skip this guy.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked it up from the library on a whim and I'm glad I did. A history of Roosevelt, John Schrank and the politics of the time. It's a nice, easy read with good detailed information. And it's not 500+ pages like so many books these days. I failed most every history class I ever took so reading some of these things that I probably learned and forgot is fun.