Roosevelt was shot on Oct. 14, 1912, during the final weeks of his quixotic presidential campaign. His delusional assailant, John Schrank, said he wanted to avenge the assassinated William McKinley by denying Roosevelt a third term. Roosevelt was on his way to deliver a speech in Milwaukee when Shrank shot him. Fortunately, it was a long speech. The text, folded and placed in Roosevelt's coat pocket, helped slow the bullet, which didn't penetrate past his ribs. Ever the hero, especially with an audience handy, Roosevelt insisted on delivering the speech before he would allow himself to be taken to a hospital.