The Assassination of President McKinley

American History Hit

History Hit

America, History

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 12 December 2022

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On 5th September, 1901, President William McKinley attended a public reception at the Pan American Exposition, a 6-month-long World’s Fair, in Buffalo, New York. He was at the height of his power, having been re-elected at the beginning of the year. But one of the people who stood in line to meet him was an anarchist, determined to carry out the first US presidential assassination of the 20th century.

Produced by Benjie Guy. Mixed by Joseph Knight. Senior Producer: Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Once upon a time in medieval England, there was a young king who would do just about anything for his favorite night.
0:06.5	They were inseparable.
0:08.5	With love at the front of a king's mind, instead of war or ambition, you'd think the kingdom would be in for a golden
0:15.0	era of peace. But England is headed for the most catastrophic collapse seen for hundreds of
0:20.4	years. The saga continues, Join me Dan Jones on This is History, a Dynasty to
0:26.4	Die for. Available wherever you get your podcasts. It's the 5th of September,
0:38.0	1, President's Day at the Pan American Exposition,
0:42.0	the six-month long World's Fair in Buffalo, New York.
0:45.8	We are inside the Temple of Music, a domed Italian Renaissance style concert hall designed for the exposition. The venue is hosting a and Members of the public line up to shake the President's hand.
1:04.0	As a security measure, those who approach the President are usually instructed to do so with
1:08.7	their hands open and empty.
1:10.5	But it is a hot afternoon, and many people are carrying handkerchiefs to wipe away sweat, so no such rule is enforced.
1:17.0	Next in line to greet the president is a man with a handkerchief wrapped around his right hand.
1:23.0	He is not injured, as it might appear, but holding a revolver with which he is about to carry out the first presidential assassination of the 20th century. Hello everyone. Welcome to American History Yet. I'm Don Wildman. Great to have you.
1:47.0	In September 1901, Buffalo, New York was a place glowing with optimism and promise.
1:53.1	Over the previous four months of summer, the city had been the site of the new Pan American
1:57.7	Exposition, a world's fair, intended to showcase Buffalo's finest attributes as a center of high culture, technical innovation, and industrial might.
2:07.0	Buffalo was the best of what a booming United States of America had to offer, and visitors had streamed in from all parts of the country
2:14.4	and from around the globe to experience the celebration.
2:17.6	But it had taken U.S. President William McKinley now serving in his second term and
2:22.1	at the height of his power and influence, several
2:25.0	months to find an opportunity in his busy schedule for him and his wife Ida to visit.
	...

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