108 years ago today, before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank with a .32-caliber bullet

108 years ago today, before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank with a .32-caliber bullet. Roosevelt went on to deliver his full scheduled speech with the bullet still in his body.

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Teddy Roosevelt was the Extraordinary Gentleman of American history. In addition to living an absurdly accomplished life – which included, among other things, becoming the youngest man to become president, the first American to win a Nobel Peace Prize, and being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor – he set the template for the all-conquering hero whose answer to most problems is to roll up his sleeves and punch the world into submission. While this sounds cool in theory, the world usually punches back – much harder.⠀⠀⠀

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So it was that Theodore spent virtually his entire life in a staring contest with death. Over and over, Roosevelt strolled right into situations that likely would have killed anybody else, only to emerge stronger and more determined…⠀⠀⠀

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See the photos and discover the unbelievable but true stories of Teddy Roosevelt cheating death by clicking the link in our bio.

Before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel. Schrank’s .32-caliber bullet, aimed directly at Roosevelt’s heart, failed to mortally wound the former president because its force was slowed by a glasses case and a bundle of manuscript in the breast pocket of Roosevelt’s heavy coat—a manuscript containing Roosevelt’s evening speech. Schrank was immediately detained 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 with the bullet still in his body. After a few words, the former “Rough Rider” pulled the torn and bloodstained manuscript from his breast pocket and declared, “You see, it takes more than one bullet to kill a Bull Moose.” He spoke for nearly an hour and then was rushed to the hospital.

Despite his vigorous campaign, Roosevelt, who served as the 26th U.S. president from 1901 to 1909, was defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson in November. Shrank was deemed insane and committed to a mental hospital, where he died in 1943.