Colonel Roosevelt

by Edmund Morris

  38 his oratory became impersonal Exhorted by a Progressive official to “come out stronger” against WW, TR said, “No, that would be entirely wrong. Give Wilson a chance to make good. Don’t handicap him before he has had an opportunity to do anything.” David S. Hinshaw interviewed by J. F. French, 1922 (TRB).

  39 Only California When TR arrived in Los Angeles on the 16th, 200,000 people lined the streets and shouted his name. Mowry, TR, 276.

  40 “a quiet, steady” The New York Times, 23 Sept. 1912.

  41 “There was no applause” David S. Hinshaw interviewed by J. F. French, 1922 (TRB). White wrote a charming account of TR’s visit to Emporia in his Autobiography, 493–96.

  42 five 78 rpm shellac discs Victor C-12406 through 12410, all recorded on 22 Sept. 1912. These recordings and four cylinders recorded the previous month for the Edison Company can be heard on numerous Internet sites. The most representative is “The Right of the People to Rule,” downloadable from the Library of Congress’s American Memory archive (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem). It contains TR’s famous exhortation to “Spend and be spent.” Another, “The Progressive Covenant with the People,” ends with him declaiming his Armageddon line with enormous relish. The pleasant voices of Wilson and Taft can be heard on the Vincent Voice Library website at http://vvl.lib.msu.edu/.

  43 “I am hoarse” TR to KR, 27 Sept. 1912 (TRC).

  44 Arkansas. Tennessee. At Memphis, on 26 Sept., TR gave a far-seeing, nonpartisan address to the Levee Convention. In language clearly written for the most part by Gifford Pinchot, he called for wholesale federal development and protection of the Mississippi drainage basin, using the plant and technology that would soon become available to the United States upon completion of the Panama Canal. See Gould, Bull Moose, 126–36.

  45 “Theodore Roosevelt has” African Methodist Episcopal Church Review, 29.2 (Oct. 1912).

  46 “It is impossible” The New York Times, 29 Sept. 1912. See Gould, Bull Moose, 136–42, for an account of TR’s successful appeal for support in New Orleans, and Arthur S. Link, “Theodore Roosevelt and the South in 1912,” in North Carolina Historical Review, 23 (July 1946) for TR’s popularity elsewhere in Dixie: “Roosevelt found … that it was his misfortune that people often shout one way and vote another.”

  47 He practically called The New York Times, 29 Sept. 1912.

  48 He blustered on George Roosevelt trip journal, 29 Sept. 1912; Thompson, Presidents I’ve Known, 187; The New York Times, 30 Sept. 1912; Wood, Roosevelt As We Knew Him, 276. The Atlanta Constitution report quoted in Gould, Bull Moose, 143–48, downplays the hostility TR provoked.

  49 He got the impression Willard Straight to Henry P. Fletcher, 3 Oct. 1912 (STR).

  Chronological Note: The investigation had been triggered by an article in the August issue of Hearst’s Magazine, showing that the payment had originally been made by John D. Archbold of Standard Oil to Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania. The latter, an archenemy of Progressivism, claimed in 1912 that he had accepted it in behalf of TR’s reelection campaign. The President, he said, not only knew about the $25,000, but had demanded a larger contribution if Standard Oil was not to be prosecuted under the Sherman Act. Although Penrose could not offer any proof of his allegation, he and the ever-vengeful Robert La Follette jointly called for a Senate examination of all contributions to the 1904, 1908, and 1912 campaigns. A subcommittee for the purpose, chaired by Moses E. Clapp of Minnesota, grilled TR on 4 Oct. 1912. He preempted his appearance by publishing a long letter to Clapp. In it, he denied Penrose’s allegation, and attached documents from his presidential papers to prove that in 1904 he had directed that no contributions from John D. Rockefeller’s highly unpopular trust should be accepted by the Republican National Committee. See TR, Letters, 7.602–5, and Campaign Contributions: Testimony Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, U.S. Senate, 2 vols. (Washington, D.C., 1913).

  50 a conference of The New York Times, 7 Oct. 1912.

  51 Wilson had come up Link, Wilson: The Road to the White House, 476–77; Heckscher, Woodrow Wilson, 260–61; Gould, Four Hats in the Ring, 164–65. For an analysis of the contrasting yet often complementary platforms of TR and WW in the campaign of 1912, see John Milton Cooper, Jr., Woodrow Wilson: A Biography (New York, 2009), 173–80.

  52 Johnson had a twenty-two-state Gable, The Bull Moose Years, 111.

  53 In Indiana, Albert Beveridge Gable, “The Bull Moose Years” (diss.), 273–84; TR, Letters, 7.595; TR to KR, 1 Nov. 1912, ts. (TRC). For a detailed account of the organization of the Progressive Party, see Gable, The Bull Moose Years, 22–57.

  54 “Children, don’t crowd” Thompson, Presidents I’ve Known, 144.

  55 The Colonel was back Davis, Released for Publication, 355–56.

  56 Roosevelt seemed a new The Outlook, 12 Oct. 1912; Philip J. Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912: An Intimate Progressive View,” ts. (TRC), 28, 40; Gould, Bull Moose, 151–54.

  57 “I’m fur Teddy” Mrs. Rudolph Schori to TR, 21 Jan. 1913, pasted into the manuscript of TR’s autobiography (MLM). Later, in Duluth and Chicago, TR used his briefing book to further effect, quoting some highly xenophobic remarks made by WW about European immigrants “of the lowest classes” in a magazine article in 1899. Gould, Bull Moose, 158–59.

  58 Munsey, a strict dieter Munsey’s advice fell on deaf ears. Stoddard, As I Knew Them, 407–8.

  59 Rumors persisted Davis, Released for Publication, 362.

  60 His speech Gould, Bull Moose, 161–62.

  61 After dinner Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 49. TR’s voice loss in the Coliseum was unfortunate, because his speech was an effective attack on WW as governor of the most corporate-friendly state in the Union. “He did precisely and exactly nothing [in New Jersey]. It is as simple to describe what [he] accomplished against the trusts as it is to write a volume on the natural history of the snakes in Ireland. There are no snakes in Ireland.” Gould, Bull Moose, 166.

  62 He returned to Chicago Davis, Released for Publication, 369.

  63 Roosevelt lies and curses Ishpeming (Mich.) Iron Ore, 12 Oct. 1912, copy in TRC.

  64 “Let’s go at him.” Davis, Released for Publication, 369.

  65 Later that afternoon The following account of the events of 14 Oct. 1912 is based on the eyewitness reportage of Philip Roosevelt in “Politics of the Year 1912”; O. K. Davis to George Perkins, 15 Oct. 1912, ts. copy (AC); Davis, Released for Publication, 370–90; Oliver Remey, Henry F. Cochems, and Joseph C. Bloodgood, The Attempted Assassination of Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt (Milwaukee, Wis., 1912); Thompson, Presidents I’ve Known, 147–50; and “Incidents in the Political Life of Theodore Roosevelt as Related by Owen Crozier,” ts. copy (TRB).

  66 “I want to be” Davis, Released for Publication, 372.

  67 “He’ll never get up” Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 54.

  68 Looking down, he Ibid.

  69 “Don’t hurt him” TR, Letters, 7.705; Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 54.

  70 What he saw Full-length photograph of Schrank, 14 Oct. 1912, Library of Congress.

  71 “What did you” Davis, Released for Publication, 149.

  72 “He pinked me” Remey et al., The Attempted Assassination, 16.

  73 Terrell had heard Davis, Released for Publication, 378; Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 55. TR later remembered saying, “I am ahead of the game and can afford to take the chances.” TR, Works, 6.xiii.

  74 “No, Colonel” Davis, Released for Publication, 378; Leary, Talks with T.R., 30; Emlen Roosevelt, ed., Roosevelt v. Newett: A Transcript of the Testimony Taken and Depositions Read at Marquette, Michigan (privately printed, 1913), 71, cited hereafter as Roosevelt v. Newett.

  75 “It’s all right” Davis, Released for Publication, 380. Afterward TR wrote KR, “As I did not cough blood, I was pretty sure that the wound was not a fatal one.” (19 Oct. 1912 [TRC].) The auditorium where TR spok
e is now the Milwaukee Theater.

  76 Cochems preceded him New York Press, 15 Oct. 1912; Stan Gores, “The Attempted Assassination of Teddy Roosevelt,” Wisconsin Magazine of History, 53 (Summer 1970).

  77 Roosevelt stepped forward O. K. Davis to George Perkins, 15 Oct. 1912 (AC); E. W. Leach (eyewitness) in Racine Journal, 13 Aug. 1921. A surviving photograph of the shirt still evokes an emotional reaction. See Lorant, Life and Times of TR, 573.

  78 “I’m going to ask you” Chicago Tribune, 15 Oct. 1912.

  79 Waiting for the noise Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 57; Davis, Released for Publication, 381.

  80 His heart was racing TR, Letters, 7.705. A stenographic text of TR’s speech, varying considerably from the original script, is reproduced in Gable, The Man in the Arena, 102ff. It appears to have been much abridged before its first publication in Elmer H. Youngman’s Progressive Principles (New York, 1913), 102–14.

  81 Roosevelt swung his head The image of the steel-gray stare is Philip Roosevelt’s. (“Politics of the Year 1912,” 58.) O. K. Davis was similarly rebuffed when he, too, tried to stop TR from going on. “He paused in his speech, and swung around on me with an expression on his face that can be described accurately only by the word ‘ferocity.’ ” Davis, Released for Publication, 383.

  82 After about forty-five minutes Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 58; Leach in Racine Journal, 13 Aug. 1921; Crozier, “Incidents in the Political Life of Theodore Roosevelt”; Davis, Released for Publication, 385.

  83 Incredibly, members Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 58; New York Press, 15 Oct. 1912; Thompson, Presidents I’ve Known, 149–50.

  84 Before being stripped TR, Letters, 8.1449; TR to KR, 19 Oct. 1912, ts. (TRC). This was an inside joke. Many years before, Bullock had been convulsed by one of TR’s favorite stories, about the Rough Rider who shot someone and who, in response to his question, “How did it happen?” answered, “With a .38 on a .45 frame, Colonel.” TR, An Autobiography, 380.

  85 Meanwhile, at New York Press, 15 Oct. 1912.

  86 Never let Remey et al., The Attempted Assassination, 60 (facsimile).

  87 News of the drama New York Press and The New York Times, 15 Oct. 1912. See also Nicholas Roosevelt, TR, 67, and Sylvia Morris, Edith Kermit Roosevelt, 385–86. A medical soap opera commenced while TR was being examined in Milwaukee. The eminent surgeon Dr. Joseph C. Bloodgood of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore happened to be in the Auditorium to witness TR’s speech, and followed him to the Emergency Hospital to offer assistance if needed. He was unimpressed with the quality of the local care, and said urgently to O. K. Davis, “Get him out of here just as quickly as you can. This is no place for him.” Both Bloodgood and Terrell recommended Mercy Hospital’s John B. Murphy as the best specialist for his case. TR assented and was checked out of the Emergency Hospital at 11:25 P.M. (Davis, Released for Publication, 389; TR to J. Keeley, 30 Dec. 1912 copy (AC); Loyal Davis, J. B. Murphy: Stormy Petrel of Surgery [New York, 1938], 262–63; New York Press, 15 Oct. 1912.) For subsequent episodes of the soap opera, involving the rivalry of four Chicago surgeons, see Davis, Murphy, 263–72.

  88 It lay embedded Davis, Murphy, 267; EKR to Emily Carow, 17 Oct. 1912 (TRC); Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 57. TR’s personal doctor, Alexander Lambert, pointed out that the spectacle case deflected the bullet upward. “[Had] the bullet gone through the arch of the aorta or auricles of the heart, Colonel Roosevelt would not have lived 60 seconds.” Bishop, TR, 2.339.

  89 “There was no other place” Crozier, “Incidents in the Political Life of Theodore Roosevelt.”

  90 His breathing hurt TR, Letters, 7.705; Philip Roosevelt, “Politics of the Year 1912,” 58–59.

  91 He was asleep Davis, Released for Publication, 390, 393; Davis to George Perkins, 15 Oct. 1912 (AC); Gores, “The Attempted Assassination.”

  92 Even at that Chicago Tribune, 16 Oct. 1912; Remey et al., The Attempted Assassination, 71; photograph in Milwaukee County Historical Society collection.

  93 At 10:30 Remey et al., The Attempted Assassination, 66–67.

  94 X-ray reproductions One of these can be seen in ibid., 32.

  95 The surgeon was closemouthed Davis, Murphy, 267. Murphy privately told TR that a few splinters of rib bone had penetrated his pleura, and that his speech after the attack had aggravated the laceration. The surgeons were afraid that if they extracted the bullet immediately, “there might be either a collapse of the pleura or an infection of the pleural cavity.” Bishop, TR, 2.345.

  96 The records show Davis, Murphy, 268. One of the examining doctors remarked that TR’s musculature had much to do with the stopping of Schrank’s bullet. “Colonel Roosevelt has a phenomenal development of the chest.… He is one of the most powerful men I have ever seen laid on an operating table.” (Bishop, TR, 2.338–39.) A score for the 12-year-old Teedie Roosevelt in 1870–1871, “widening his chest by regular, monotonous motion.” Robinson, My Brother TR, 50.

  97 Perhaps the best Sylvia Morris, Edith Kermit Roosevelt, 387ff.

  98 Dr. Murphy’s pointed reference Davis, Murphy, 273, notes that the reference was “out of place” in a medical bulletin. “But in the light of the Colonel’s [libel] suit it grows evident that the patient had asked that some such allusion to liquor should be made.”

  99 It was from Davis, Released for Publication, 395.

  100 Among the other The New York Times, 15, 16 Oct. 1912; Link, Papers of Woodrow Wilson, 25.421–22, 425. WW privately joked about the effect his courteous gesture would have on TR. “Teddy will have apoplexy when he hears of this.” Cooper, Woodrow Wilson, 170.

  101 Similar messages Davis, Released for Publication, 396; The New York Times, 16–18 Oct. 1912; Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 1912. The crowned heads included George V of England, Wilhelm II of Germany, Franz Joseph of Austria, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and the Emperor of Japan. For editorial reactions, domestic and international, to the attack on TR, see The Outlook and Literary Digest, 26 Oct. 1912.

  102 He informed the judge Remey et al., The Attempted Assassination, 94–96; Gores, “The Attempted Assassination.”

  103 After a week TR, Letters, 7.632; The New York Times, 27, 28 Oct. 1912.

  104 “I am in fine” TR, Letters, 7.631–32.

  105 Hiram Johnson was The following description of TR’s appearance in the Garden is based on illustrated articles in The New York Times and Syracuse Herald, 31 Oct. 1912.

  106 “Quiet, down there!” Hagedorn, The Roosevelt Family, 325.

  107 “—Perhaps not so” The complete text of TR’s speech, entitled “The Purpose of the Progressive Party,” is in Gould, Bull Moose, 187–92.

  108 This was Gable, “The Bull Moose Years” (diss.), 270; Gould, Bull Moose, 188. TR’s appearance, at the Garden—stigmatized, suffering, elevated high above the faithful—marked the climax of the quasi-Christian symbolism of his campaign. See, e.g., Robinson, My Brother TR, 275.

  Chronological Note: WW addressed a Democratic rally the following night, 31 Oct., and Tammany Hall timekeepers made sure that the ovation for him lasted half an hour longer than the one for TR. Ignoring medical advice, TR returned to the Garden on 2 Nov., still manifestly in pain, to speak on behalf of Oscar Straus’s gubernatorial candidacy. He then made a couple of election-eve appearances on Long Island. The last speech he made, at the Oyster Bay Opera House, was a furious reply to some minor criticisms leveled against him by Elihu Root. Heckscher, Woodrow Wilson, 262; The New York Times, 2, 5 Nov. 1912.

  109 At seven the Colonel EKR to KR, 6 Nov. 1912 (KRP); Cordery, Alice, 234.

  110 The phone call TR actually knew as early as 7:30 P.M. that a landslide for WW impended, but the Democratic National Committee did not claim victory until 10:30. WW acknowledged his triumph at 10:45. Atlanta Constitution and The New York Times, 6 Nov. 1912.

  111 THE AMERICAN PEOPLE The New York Times, 6 Nov. 1912.

  112 “Like all other” New York E
vening Post, 6 Nov. 1912.

  CHAPTER 13: A POSSIBLE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

  1 Epigraph Robinson, Collected Poems, 16.

  2 “Well, we have” TR to KR, 5 Nov. 1912, ts. (TRC).

  3 In his still-fragile Ibid. After the last line, TR characteristically added, “I am absolutely happy and contented.” See also his posterity letter sent on the same date to Arthur Lee, in TR, Letters, 7.634–35.

  4 “You know him” EKR to KR, 6 Nov. 1912 (KRP).

  5 Gradually, Roosevelt realized In further analysis, TR ran second in 23 states, seven of them in the South, where his “lily-white” Party policy proved effective in weakening WHT’s machine support. He swept Pennsylvania with a 50,000-vote margin over WW, plus California with 11 out of 13 electoral votes, and Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Washington besides. He was only 1,000 votes behind WHT in Vermont, and 3,000 behind WW in Maine. The governor’s winning margins in North Dakota and Montana were not much greater, at 4,000 and 6,000. New York City rejected its native son by a plurality of 122,777 votes, but TR racked up convincing wins in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles. He performed strongly in the Midwest and West, and secured a majority of the nation’s normal GOP vote by a margin of more than half a million. (Gould, Bull Moose, 176–77; Literary Digest, 16 Nov. 1912; Gable, The Bull Moose Years, 131–32.) Gould points out that TR did not technically defeat WHT in either California or South Dakota, since the President was not on the ballot in those states.