William McKinley: The Man Who Got Shot for Being President

William McKinley was the twenty-fifth president of the United States and the only one who got shot for being president (sorry, James Garfield, you’re just not amusing enough). McKinley was born on January 29, 1843, in Niles, Ohio, which is not to be confused with the popular snack mix.

McKinley was a civil war veteran who fought in several battles, including the Battle of Antietam, where he was nearly killed because he left his musket in his other pants. After the Civil War, McKinley became a lawyer, a congressman, and, eventually, the governor of Ohio. He was known for his impeccable fashion sense and love for velvet shirts, floppy hats, and anything with a tassel.

In 1896, McKinley ran for president as the candidate of the Republican Party. His opponent was William Jennings Bryan, who was famous for his fiery speeches and his ability to make the gold standard sound exciting (seriously, he could make watching paint dry seem like a party). McKinley won the election, and his presidency was marked by economic prosperity, expansionism, and an unfortunate tendency to get shot in the stomach.

On September 6, 1901, McKinley attended the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, where he was shot twice by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz. McKinley initially survived the attack and even joked with his doctors, saying, “I guess I’ll have to speak softly for a while.” However, he wasn’t out of the woods yet, and his condition worsened over the next few days. He eventually died on September 14, 1901, making him the third president to die in office (sorry, Garfield, you’re still not funny).

McKinley’s legacy is somewhat overshadowed by his tragic death, but he was a popular president who presided over a period of great growth and expansion in the United States. He was a man of deep faith, a devoted husband, and a passionate advocate for peace, diplomacy, and the eradication of tassels from all men’s clothing. He was also a reminder that in politics, anything can happen, even if that something is getting shot for being president.