Overview
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, was shot while greeting visitors at the Temple of Music on the grounds of the Pan‑American Exposition in Buffalo. The attack occurred during a public reception and was witnessed by members of the public and the presidential entourage. McKinley initially survived the shooting but later died of complications.
Circumstances of the shooting
McKinley had been attending the exposition as part of a national tour. He was standing in a receiving line and meeting well‑wishers when the shooter stepped forward and fired two shots at close range. One bullet struck McKinley in the abdomen and another in the shoulder. The scene triggered immediate medical attention and the president was carried from the building to a nearby residence where physicians attended him.
Assailant and motive
The attacker was identified as Leon Czolgosz, who described himself as an anarchist. Authorities investigated his background, political views, and possible accomplices. Czolgosz was arrested at the scene and later tried for murder. His stated motivations and the appeal to anarchist rhetoric at the time were central to the criminal case and public debate.
Medical treatment and death
Although surgeons initially believed the wounds were not necessarily fatal, infection and internal injury complicated McKinley’s recovery. Over the course of several days his condition worsened and he died on September 14, 1901. Medical practices of the era, including exploratory procedures and limited antiseptic techniques, influenced the outcome and were much discussed afterward.
Immediate aftermath and consequences
McKinley’s death elevated his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, to the presidency. The assassination intensified concerns about public safety for national leaders and contributed to changes in protective practices over time. The shooter was convicted and executed following a criminal trial; the event also prompted legislative and administrative reviews of security at public events.
Historical significance and remembrance
The assassination of McKinley is remembered as a turning point in presidential security and as part of the broader history of political violence in the United States. It marked the third successful assassination of an American president in the 19th and early 20th centuries and influenced public attitudes toward anarchism, law enforcement, and crowd control at civic occasions.
- September 6, 1901: shooting at the Pan‑American Exposition
- September 14, 1901: President McKinley dies of his wounds
- Immediate succession by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt