Description:

William McKinley
various, ca. Sept 9-13, 1901
Telegrams Report McKinley's Decline After Shooting, Just Days Before His Death on September 14, 1901
Archive
A fascinating series of eight original Western Union Telegraph Company telegrams sending reports of McKinley's condition in the last four days before his death by the bullet of anarchist Leon Czolgosz. Dated from September 9 through September 13, 1901, these telegrams offer daily detail about McKinley's condition, which is consistently, and incorrectly, noted as good. Each measures approximately 8" x 5.25". Condition varies but all exhibit toning, marginal tears and wear consistent with the quality of paper and handling. Please view images for condition and refer to our terms regarding lots of five pieces or more.

To his doctors' surprise, in the immediate days following the gunshot McKinley certainly appeared to recover and they positively reported on improvements. In part: "...The President has passed a most comfortable night since the attempt on his life. Pulse 113, temperature 100.4, Respiration 28...at 900 am…The President's condition this morning is eminently satisfactory to his physicians. If no complications arise a rapid convalescence may be expected. Pulse 104, Temperature 99.9, Respiration 26…The President continues to gain and the wound is becoming more healthy. The nourishment taken into the stomach is being gradually increased. The president has spent a quiet and restful night and has taken much nourishment…and relished it. Pulse 120 Temperature 100.3 degrees…".

However by September 13, the tone of the telegrams has changed: "…The Presidents [sic] condition this evening is not so good, his food has not agreed with him…excretion has not yet been properly established, the kidneys are acting well, his pulse is not satisfactory but has improved…he is resting quietly, temperature 100.2 pulse 128…"..

The next day, September 14, McKinley would succumb, due in most part to gangrene to the wound, which had not been sutured appropriately. Complicating this oversight was McKinley's general state of ill-health: he was nearly sixty years old, overweight, and suffering from as-yet undiagnosed cardiomyopathy (degeneration of the heart muscle). While a healthy body may have been able to fight off the wound's infection, McKinley's was unable to do so.

William McKinley (1842-1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. His second term ended prematurely when he was shot on September 6, 1901, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. McKinley died eight days later and was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. A member of the Republican Party, McKinley led a realignment that made Republicans largely dominant in the industrial states and nationwide for decades.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8" x 5"
  • Medium: Archive

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