Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt had his eyes set on a third
presidential term. As the candidate on the Progressive Party or Bull-Moose
Party ticket, Roosevelt planned to tour the entire country, making speeches and
promoting the ideals and values of the Progressive Party. John Schrank, a New
Yorker from Bavaria, felt no one should seek a third term as President. Schrank
decided he must assassinate Roosevelt to teach Americans that no third term
seeker should be allowed in the United States. Helferich follows these two
individuals as their paths converge in September and October 1912, leading to
the assassination attempt on October 14, 1912, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I knew very little about this assassination attempt prior to
reading this book. Overall, I found the book to be informative, well-written
and truly fascinating. Helferich has crafted a well-flowing nonfiction
narrative that grabbed my interest and should grab the interest of anyone
interested in presidential histories, political histories, and/or United States
histories. Each chapter reflects another day or another week on the campaign
trail and follows the movements of Roosevelt and Schrank in this time frame;
this construction makes readers feel like they are part of the journey.
Photographs scattered throughout the book add to the narrative, allowing
readers to see people and places as they are discussed in the narrative. A list
of sources and a bibliography appear at the end of the book.
Incidentally, anyone who enjoyed Destiny of the Republic
by Candice Millard and would like to read a similar title should check out this
book.
Reviewed by Jessica
