It Takes More Than That to Kill a Bull Moose!

Listening to the candidates give speeches at both the Republican and Democrat conventions these past few weeks, I was reminded of time when conventions really mattered.  They once were smoky, raucous, disorganized affairs with plenty of arm pulling and cajoling.   The convention was the place where, even after the primaries, the eventual nominee was in doubt.   

In 1912, such was the case in the Republican Party.  The president, William Howard Taft, the heaviest chief executive in our history weighing in at 320 pounds, was being challenged by his one time close friend and boss, Theodore Roosevelt.  Believe it or not, Roosevelt's presidency had brought the word "progressive" to the forefront of American politics.  Convinced that Taft, Roosevelt's former vice president and successor, was not living up to progressive ideals, Roosevelt felt it his obligation to return to the White House to reinvigorate the party's platform.  Loyal Republicans and Taft's connections insured that Taft emerged as the nominee from the convention.   But, not to be held back, Roosevelt kicked off a third party to challenge Taft, the Democrat nominee Woodrow Wilson and the socialist party candidate Eugene Debs.  

Roosevelt's Progressive Party was quick to take hold.  America loved Teddy and his personality.   This multiple book author, Nobel Peace Prize winner, world traveler, outdoors man, rancher, hero of San Juan Hill, builder of the Panama Canal and friend to the little people was adored and respected.   Tirelessly, Roosevelt traveled America and stood in front of large audiences in order to garner support for his progressive movement.  

But not everyone thought well of the former president.  On October 14, 1912, as he campaigned in Milwaukee for what was now called the "Bull Moose" Party, Roosevelt was leaving his hotel and headed to a speaking engagement when a man named John Schrank pulled a pistol and fired at him from close range. The bullet entered his chest and lodged in a rib. 

Bleeding and in pain, Roosevelt insisted on keeping the appointment and he did not disappoint.  Displaying his bloody shirt to the energized crowd, he shouted to his loving supporters “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose!”   He talked for more than an hour and then went to the hospital where X-Rays and medical experts determined the bullet did not pose a threat to his future health.  Roosevelt carried the slug in his rib for the rest of his life.

I doubt you'd see anything like that in a political convention of today!

The bullet hole through Roosevelt's speech and glasses case