The Other Two Assassinated Presidents

James Garfield will never be known as a “great American president” since his presidential accomplishments were limited to appointing judges.  He did not  have enough time in the office to enact any real policies.  However, the cartoon cat “Garfield” was named after Jim Davis’ grandfather who was named after the president.

William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, was also an Ohio Republican, and like Garfield, served in the military during the Civil War, achieving the rank of major (there seems to be a pattern).  McKinley was instrumental in the labor union movement, having successfully represented 32 of 33 imprisoned striking miners, and as Governor of Ohio,  passed laws against employer anti-union activities.  McKinley invited visitors and voters to his home in Canton, OH, where he delivered his “front-porch” speeches.  He, along with his running mate, Garrett A. Hobart, ran against William Jennings Bryan.  One of the primary contested issues was the silver vs. gold standard for currency.  Bryan was in favor of a silver standard for currency, and made this his primary issue.  McKinley opposed the use of silver and supported the continued use of gold.  McKinley won decisively in 1896, and again in the election of 1900.  During McKinley’s first term, the economy improved greatly, and along with the victory in the Spanish-American war, McKinley’s run for a second term was facilitated.  In the 1900 presidential race, McKinley and his running mate, Theodore Roosevelt (Hobart  died of heart failure in 1899) ran against William Jennings Bryan and his vice presidential candidate, Adlai Stevenson I.

On Sept. 6, 1901, President and Mrs. McKinley were in Buffalo, New York, attending the Pan-American Exposition.  McKinley was greeting the public at the Temple of Music at the expo.  Leon Frank Czolgosz was in line and as he approached the president, shot him twice.  The first bullet grazed McKinley, but the second bullet passed through his kidney, pancreas, and stomach, and lodged itself in his back muscles.  Like Garfield, the doctors could not locate the bullet in his back and decided to let the bullet remain in his body.  McKinley appeared to be recovering, but on Sept. 14, 1901, he died of gangrene. 

Czolgosz was apprehended by the angry mob and was severely beaten.  He was arrested, and later indicted by a grand jury.  He refused to speak to his lawyers.  His lawyers used this as proof that their client was insane, and tried to have him acquitted with an insanity plea.  (This didn’t work for Guiteau, nor did it work for Czolgosz).  He was convicted on Sept. 23, 1901 and was electrocuted on Oct. 29, 1901.

Czolgosz shot McKinley because of his anarchist beliefs.  He was influenced by the July 29, 1900, assassination of  King Umberto I of Italy.  His assassin claimed that he killed the king for the sake of the common man.  At Czolgosz’ execution,  he declared unrepentently that he had killed the president because McKinley was an “enemy of working people”.

During McKinley’s presidency, among other accomplishments,  the U.S. gained ownership of Guam and Puerto Rico, and annexed Hawaii.  Mount McKinley in Alaska is named after him, and his picture is on the $500.00 bill (two things that most Americans will not see).

Of the four assassinations, two were certainly committed by people who had opposing political and social views than those of the presidents.  Booth and Czolgosz thought they were acting on behalf of the American citizens.  The jury is still out on Lee Harvey Oswald, although there is evidence that he was not happy with U.S. society and Kennedy’s policies. Garfield was killed by an angry, disappointed politico.

Now, when Alex Trebek announces the final jeopardy answer under the category of U.S. Presidents, go ahead and bet it all.  Knock your family and friends over in Trivial Pursuit!  Or just be proud to know a little bit more about your country’s history.