ABSTRACT
On October 14, 1912, at a campaign stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a mentally challenged bartender named John F. Schrank shot Roosevelt at point-blank range with a .38 revolver. The bullet entered Roosevelt’s chest but did less damage than intended because it pierced a 50-page speech folded in Roosevelt’s jacket and a metal eyeglass case. Roosevelt fell to the ground from the force of the shot but got back up. He refused to go to a hospital for treatment. He said, “I’ll make this speech or die.” He gave this speech at the Milwaukee Auditorium.
