28-year-old factory worker Leon Cholgosh has finally reached the President.

Past the guards at the door, past the artillery men lining the aisle.

He approaches William McKinley at this meet and greet, becoming the focus of the President's closest most trusted security detail.

Unbeknownst to them, in his right hand, Cholgosh holds cold metal.

Even on this hot day, a pistol concealed beneath a handkerchief

shielding the gun from sight.

The President, smiling benignly, notices Cholgosh's covered right hand and reaches out with his left.

As they shake, bringing Leon into close range, he fires the gun.

Two shots. A stunned silence follows, and then wham! James Big Jim Parker lunges at

Cholgosh, fists flying. The hulking Man has been following the assassin in the queue,

having waited outside the building since mid-morning for a chance to meet the

President. His quick action brings the rest of the room into focus as the surrounding soldiers and police jumped the shooter, joining Parker holding him down.

But McKinley, coherent and clear, orders his men to be gentle with Cholgosh, and he is whisked away

in search of medical attention. Hello everyone. Welcome to American History Hit. I'm Don Wildman. Great to have you.

In the previous episode we heard about McKinley History Hit, I'm Don Wildman, great to have you.

In the previous episode, we heard about McKinley's presidency, but now we're returning

to the thing he is arguably most famous for, his death as the third American president to be

assassinated.

For this episode, one of the earliest episodes of American history hit,

Lindsay Lauren Visser takes us through the events of this pivotal moment

in American history.

Greetings, Lindsay Lauren, welcome to the podcast.

...