Page of Theodore Roosevelt speech hit by bullet in 1912 assassination attempt uncovered
A page from Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 speech, pierced by a bullet during an assassination attempt, has been discovered by a presidential historian. The document, bearing Roosevelt's handwriting and two bullet holes, was found in a private collection after more than a century. It highlights a dramatic moment in U.S. history when Roosevelt delivered his speech despite being wounded.
- ▪Theodore Roosevelt was shot during a campaign event in Milwaukee on October 14, 1912, but continued to deliver his speech.
- ▪The manuscript page, found in a private collection, includes two bullet holes and a handwritten note by Roosevelt about the incident.
- ▪Historian Nathan Raab believes this is the only known page from the speech with Roosevelt's handwriting and considers it highly significant.
- ▪The bullet that struck Roosevelt remained in his body until his death in 1919.
- ▪Only two other pages from the speech are known to exist, but this one is unique due to its inscriptions and status as the introductory page.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
A photo related to John F Schrank's attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, in October 1912. Photograph: Library of CongressView image in fullscreenA photo related to John F Schrank's attempted assassination of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th US president, in October 1912. Photograph: Library of CongressUS politicsPage of Theodore Roosevelt speech hit by bullet in 1912 assassination attempt uncoveredThe 26th president was wounded in the attack but the thick manuscript in his breast pocket helped save his lifeRichard LuscombeMon 4 May 2026 13.11 EDTLast modified on Mon 4 May 2026 13.12 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe first page of a thick manuscript that helped slow a bullet and save the life of Theodore Roosevelt during a 1912 assassination attempt has…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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