2. Mar. 7-Sept. 15, 1901: Vice Presidency and McKinley’s Assassination

Note: Transcriptions from this project have been returned to loc.gov for search and discovery. As a result, we will not be reopening completed pages from this project. Contact us with any additional questions.

President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was a prolific writer of books, articles, and especially letters, and received as much mail as he sent. His correspondents ranged from heads of states to average Americans, and covered a wide range of topics. Discover what Roosevelt and his correspondents had to say about the issues of their day.

Roosevelt’s limited duties as vice president largely ended with the recess of Congress in March 1901. He returned home to New York to enjoy his family, and engage in his own interests and activities. A voluminous amount of mail followed him, most often requests for assistance in some form. While on a family vacation in September, word reached Roosevelt of the impending death of President William McKinley, who had been shot by an assassin at the Pan-American Exposition. McKinley’s death on September 14 elevated Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency.