I was really surprised to come across this photo of President McKinley. Because of Cold Heart taking place in Buffalo just after the Pan-Am Exposition and my great admiration for Theodore Roosevelt, I’ve read a lot about William McKinley’s assassination. I’ve seen photos of him speaking earlier that day but this picture appears to have been taken in the Temple of Music, where the president was struck down by Leon Czolgosz.
The metadata didn’t specify that it is in the Temple of Music but if so, this picture was taken just a few minutes before McKinley was attacked. Looking at the surroundings, you would never imagine something like that would happen there.
LOC.gov
I have a rather morbid fascination with last words and last pictures, so this interests me enormously!
old spirituals 
Teddy Roosevelt is one of my most respected U.S. Presidents. His life and accomplishments are second to none.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Jax! A brilliant and remarkable man!
LikeLike
Have you watched the documentary, “Theodore Roosevelt: A Cowboy’s Ride to the White House?” Believe it is available on Prime and/or FreeVee.
Most Americans do not appreciate Teddy Roosevelt, the man: A “Blue Blood New Yorker”; Sickly child; Scholar; Sunday School Teacher; Author; Widower; Hunter; Conservationist; Cowboy/Cattle Rancher; Wrestler; NYC Police Commissioner; Asst. Secretary of the Navy; Colonel and Rough Rider; Governor of New York; Vice President; President and Father of America’s National Parks.
Oh, lest we not forget, he is the name sake of the “Teddy Bear.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t seen it but I’ll look for it. I’ll watch anything about TR. I’m really a geek about him. I think it was his enormous will to live and succeed that first intrigued me but the more I learned, the more I wanted to know. My friend Furman gave me a Theodore Roosevelt bobble head that sits on my desk wherever I go!
LikeLike
Yes! Teddy Roosevelt was a man of great energy and intelligence!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If this is the Temple of Music, what if one of those faces in the photo is the Assassin’s?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I didn’t even consider it but he might very well be behind the president or just off to the side somewhere. It’s funny you’d mention that. Right away it made me think of that picture of John Lennon signing an autograph for Mark David Chapman. A few hours later, Chapman murdered him. I don’t know if it’s confirmed or not but supposedly, John Wilkes Booth went to Lincoln’s second inaugural and is visible in the crowd.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tend to look at the background faces in a photo. The clothing is fascinating, too. Look at McKinley’s shoes. They’re unpolished and scuffed at the toes. I didn’t know he was so tall, either. The lady three from the left in the photo has on the most gorgeous clothes!
Teddy Roosevelt also called people that had immigrated to America and used the former country along with American to describe themselves “the hyphenateds”. He felt people should be plain Americans.
From what I’ve read, President Lincoln’s eldest son knew John Wilkes Booth. They were both friends with a congressman’s daughter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roosevelt’s comments about “hyphenated Americans” is exactly correct. That is the opinion of a 2nd generation immigrant with dual citizenship.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree about the hyphenateds! Dual citizenship seems like it would open up one’s world a lot though. You always have a choice to have a very different future. Even if you never used it, having the possibility would be nice.
LikeLike
You would be a great detective or jury consultant, Judy! I’m so absent minded at times, that almost seems like a supernatural talent! I did notice the lady in the beautiful clothes because she looks so different than everyone else but a detail like McKinley’s shoes totally escaped me. And it’s the little details that often are the most important. Iwill say it surprises me that his shoes wouldn’t be spotless and shiny!
I feel like Roosevelt had a solid point about hyphenateds. The more emphasis placed on identity (Irish American etc) the less room there is for commonalities and common goals.
LikeLike