On the morning of September 6, 1901, President William McKinley, known for his extensive travels across America, was in Buffalo, New York. Dressed impeccably, he was there to deliver a speech at the Pan-American Exposition, a symbol of American industrial progress and international goodwill. Later that day, at the exposition’s Temple of Music, McKinley engaged with the public in a reception line, a duty he often enjoyed, appreciating the direct connection with the American people. As he extended his hand in greeting, the atmosphere of public admiration was shattered by sudden violence.
At precisely seven minutes past four, amidst the murmuring crowd, two sharp cracks echoed through the Temple of Music. Leon F. Czolgosz, a 28-year-old unemployed mill worker with Polish heritage and residing in Detroit, had fired a concealed .32 caliber Iver Johnson revolver directly into President McKinley’s chest. Czolgosz, driven by anarchist ideologies, viewed McKinley as an enemy of the common worker. The President recoiled, collapsing into the arms of his Secret Service detail. Even as he bled from his wounds, McKinley’s immediate concern was for others, instructing his guards not to harm his assailant and expressing worry for his wife, urging his secretary to break the news gently. He was swiftly transported to a hospital, and initially, doctors were optimistic about his recovery.
However, the situation took a grim turn when gangrene infected the bullet wounds. Eight days after the shooting, on September 14, 1901, William McKinley succumbed to his injuries, just six months into his second term as President. His assassination sent shockwaves across the nation and the world, marking a profound moment of national grief and political reflection.
Leon Czolgosz readily confessed to the assassination. He stated that he targeted President McKinley because he considered him “an enemy of the people, the good working people.” Czolgosz showed no regret for his actions. His trial was swift, and he was sentenced to death. On October 29, 1901, Czolgosz was executed in the electric chair, paying the ultimate price for his act of political violence that abruptly ended the life of President William McKinley and altered the course of American history. The assassination highlighted the rising tide of anarchism and its violent opposition to established political figures at the dawn of the 20th century.
