On August 7, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, the former U.S. president, was nominated for the presidency by the Progressive party, a group of Republicans dissatisfied with the re-nomination of President William Howard Taft. Also known as the Bull Moose party, the Progressive platform called for the direct election of U.S. senators, woman suffrage, reduction of the tariff, and many social reforms. Roosevelt, who served as the twenty-sixth president of the United States from 1901 to 1909, embarked on a vigorous campaign as the party's presidential candidate. During one stop in New York City, he appeared before the Boy's Progressive League, and spoke to the future voters on the ''Square Deal''--Roosevelt's concept of a society based on fair business competition and increased welfare for needy Americans. On October 12, 1912, minutes before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Roosevely was shot at close range by anarchist William Schrenk. Schrenk, who was immediately detained, admitted to the crime and reportedly offered as his motive that "any man looking for a third term ought to be shot." Roosevelt, who suffered only a flesh wound from the attack, went on to deliver his scheduled speech, declaring "You see, it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose." The former ''Rough Rider'' later collapsed, and was rushed to the hospital. He soon recovered, but in November was defeated by Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson, who benefited from the divided Republican party.
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Added: May 16, 2007 |
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