Original subtitles

Buffalo, New York today looks very different from how it did on the

September 6, 1901.

At the time, U .S. President William McKinley is visiting the city's great

-American exposition.

Now he's greeting a line of people moving slowly past him.

Suddenly gunshots split the air.

McKinley staggers as two bullets thump into him.

Someone wants the president dead.

A popular and successful politician, President William McKinley is just one

into his second term.

So, as he's now rushed to hospital, hovering between life and death, the

question everyone asks is, who would want to kill him, and why?

In 1901, three years after swiftly winning a decisive war against Spain,

is entering a new age of prosperity.

The economy is booming as the country's industrialists, oil magnates and bankers

take full advantage of McKinley's enthusiastic support for the forces of

capitalism.

But as the gap between rich and poor grows ever greater, there's a

of resentment towards the privileged elite who often spend more on an

entertainment than the ordinary working man earns in a year.

This resentment is readily exploited by a group of radical socialists known as

anarchists.

Although few in number, they have no trouble finding receptive audiences as

travel the country spreading the message that the US government is corrupt and

that the ruling classes are enriching themselves by exploiting the workers.

But would they go so far as actually trying to assassinate the man?

who to them represents everything that's wrong with American society, the

president himself, William McKinley.

This is what the great majority of U .S. citizens now want to know.

November the 3rd, 1896, Washington, D .C.

When McKinley is elected president for the first time, he's the 25th holder of

the highest office in the land.

The new president, now aged 53, has come a long way.

Born in Niles, Ohio, in January 1843, McKinley is the seventh of nine

His father is an iron founder.

In June 1861, McKinley enlists as a private in the Union Army at the start

the U .S. Civil War.

He's posted to Western Virginia.

where he spends a year fighting small Confederate units.

His commanding officer at the time is Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, who will

become U .S. President himself in 1877.

Hayes is mightily impressed with both McKinley's ability and bravery, and soon

promotes him to sergeant.

A short time later, After heading a mule team delivering rations under fire at

Antietam, he's promoted again, this time to second lieutenant.

McKinley continues to serve the Union cause with great distinction and

in September 1865 with the rank of major.

He then enrolls at law school and is admitted to the bar in 1867.

He also begins to take a keen interest in politics, campaigning

on behalf of General Ulysses S. Grant, who was elected president in 1867.

In 1877, McKinley, by now a successful lawyer, is elected to the House of

Representatives. He's set on a career in politics.

Meanwhile, in downtown Detroit, Michigan, Life is becoming increasingly

a four -year -old boy, Leon Sholgus, one of seven children born to Polish

immigrant parents.

The family will move frequently throughout Leon's early life as they try

better themselves.

In 1891, the family are in Cleveland, Ohio.

In the same year, McKinley is elected state governor of Ohio.

He'd lost his seat in Congress the previous year, after introducing the

Bill, a highly unpopular measure of tariffs on imported goods.

Meanwhile, Shulgus has just been taken back as a machinist at a wire and steel

factory, after being fired for taking part in a strike for higher wages.

Around this time, he begins taking an interest in radical socialism.

and gets involved with a group railing against capitalism and those they regard

as wealthy and privileged.

In particular, Chalgas takes a vehement dislike to the American system of

democratic government.

In 1893, McKinley is re -elected governor of Ohio.

Three years later, he leaves office and stands as the Republican Party's U .S.

presidential candidate.

After a highly effective and well -financed campaign, he wins

But within a short time of McKinley taking office, he's attracted the

attention of Chalmers.

The would -be anarchist despises him, regarding him as a hypocrite, enthralled

to the country's wealthy and powerful elite.

By now, the U .S. is at war with Spain.

The war begins in April 1898 over Cuba's demand for independence from Spanish

rule and the sinking of the American battleship USS Maine in Havana Harbor.

Cuban nationalists have brought the country to the brink of civil war.

This provokes the U .S. into calling for Spain to resolve the situation

peacefully and then withdraw, leading the Cubans to govern themselves.

Spain responds by declaring war on the U .S.

The conflict lasts around 100 days, during which time the U .S. Navy defeats

Spanish fleet in a series of engagements off Cuba and the Philippines.

Spain finally sues for peace in August 1898, leaving Cuba independent, but at

the same time now firmly within the U .S. sphere of influence.

Three years later, McKinley has been re -elected president, winning by an even

greater margin than he had during his first term.

But as he takes office for the second time, McKinley faces mounting industrial

unrest, as across the U .S., more and more workers are standing up for their

rights, demanding better pay and conditions and a shorter working week.

Many of them bitterly resent the fact that while they struggle to survive, the

country's elite seems to grow even more rich and powerful.

Their anger is fueled by a number of newspapers and magazines known as the

Yellow Press.

Among the more strident of these is the Journal, owned, ironically, by one of

the country's richest men, William Randolph Hearst.

And when, on April 10, 1901, the Journal publishes an editorial saying, If bad

institutions and bad men can be got rid of only by killing them, then the

killing must be done.

It is music to the anarchist's ears.

Hearst would claim later that these words had been published without his

knowledge. But it was too late.

To someone like Sholgoth, the editorial is tantamount to a call to arms.

Now, as the anarchists become bolder and more outspoken, Shulgus is determined

to make his mark.

May the 6th, 1901, Cleveland, Ohio.

Emma Goldman, regarded as the high priestess of anarchism, addresses the

Franklin Liberal Club.

Although not exactly condoning violence... She draws short of

who uses it to support oppressed workers.

Among the attentive audience is a young man now living on a farm a few miles

from the city.

It's Leon Solgis.

Convinced that the U .S. is corrupt and that the ruling classes are enriching

themselves by exploiting the workers, Solgis is fired with a burning desire to

do something.

He's fascinated by the assassination of King Umberto I of Italy on July 29,

1900, shot to death by the anarchist Gaetano Breschi.

Breschi is sentenced to life imprisonment the following month.

A year later, he's found dead in his cell.

No one ever knew if he'd killed himself or had died at the hands of the guards.

Here, thought Chogoth, is a man prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for his

beliefs.

Now he, too, wants to do something for the cause, something which will make him

an anarchist legend like Bresci.

But what?

Then he has his big idea.

August the 33rd, 1901, Buffalo, New York.

Chalgas checks into a hotel on the east side of the city.

He's going to assassinate William McKinley, the President of the United

Those around McKinley are only too well aware of the loathing the anarchists

have for him. They know his life will always be at risk.

The previous year, an enterprising U .S. Secret Service agent had unearthed what

amounted to an anarchist hit list, compiled in 1898.

Included among those marked for death are King Umberto of Italy and the

President of the United States.

William McKinley.

But the president himself will hear none of it.

Who would want to shoot me, he's reported to have said.

The American people are too intelligent for that.

Little could he have known what would await him in Buffalo.

Chalgety's Hotel is not far from the Pan -American Exposition, a major new

exhibition site.

And, as he's well aware, McKinley is due in town any time now for a visit.

Local newspapers helpfully provide Sholgat with comprehensive details of

president's schedule.

So, for the next two or three days, he hangs around the exposition, checking

the route he knows McKinley will take around the various exhibits.

He also familiarizes himself with the roads leading to and from the site.

If he's successful in killing McKinley, He fully intends to escape in the

ensuing confusion.

Although by now a committed anarchist, Saugus has no particular desire to die

for the cause.

The huge exposition, which is situated on a 342 -acre site, is a triumphant

celebration of America's industrial, technical, and cultural achievements.

Opening on May 1st and due to run until November 2nd, the exposition attracts

nearly 8 million visitors, not just from the US, but from overseas as well.

And the most important of them all is to be William McKinley, President of the

United States.

September 4th, 1901, Buffalo, New York.

Shulgus buys a six -shot nickel -plated .32 caliber Johnson automatic handgun

from a Main Street hardware store.

It's the same type that had been used to kill King Umberto a year earlier.

Later the same day, Shulgus visits the exposition and once again wanders about,

checking McKinley's route.

He is determined to assassinate the president.

September the 5th, Buffalo, New York, 9 a .m.

Today is President's Day.

It's a national holiday, and around 50 ,000 visitors are expected at the Pan

-American Exposition.

But one of them, a 28 -year -old anarchist called Leon Chalgas, has

his mind.

He's now trying to get close to the grandstand from which McKinley is due to

make a speech.

9 .30 a .m.

The president, the first lady, and the rest of their entourage arrive and take

their place on the grandstand in the esplanade.

McKinley starts to speak.

Chogos is waiting for him to finish. Then he plans to rush forward and shoot

him.

10 .15 a .m.

When McKinley's done, he's escorted off the stage to his carriage.

Seeing his chance, Shulgus moves into position.

Then he stops, a few yards away, confused.

He's looking at two men, but they're both identically dressed in top hats and

black frock coats.

Shulgus can't tell them apart.

While he's trying to work it out, the carriage moves off.

He's missed his chance.

The President will now spend the rest of the day at the exposition.

taking in the major highlights such as the reenacted battle between early U .S.

troops and Native American Indians.

He will not leave until the end of a spectacular firework display later that

evening.

He's had a narrow escape for now.

But as Chagas is well aware, McKinley is due to return to the exposition for a

second visit.

The following day.

September the 6th, Niagara Falls, midday.

President McKinley and his entourage are visiting Niagara Falls, a short

distance from Buffalo.

He's due back at the Pan -American Exposition that afternoon.

Meanwhile, Leon Shogus... is hanging around, waiting for McKinley to return.

He's still determined to kill him.

3 .30 p .m., Exposition Station, Buffalo.

McKinley returns from Niagara.

He alights from his train and sets off in a carriage.

Having studied the President's itinerary, Shulgus knows exactly where

headed.

In order not to alert the bodyguards, He has concealed his gun in a white

handkerchief, wrapped around his right hand like a bandage.

3 .50 p .m.

McKinley arrives at the Temple of Music.

He's due at a reception within five minutes, marking the end of his

visit.

3 .55 p .m.

Temple of Music, Exposition Center.

Saugus, who's been trailing McKinley since he arrived at the station, slips

the Temple of Music behind him.

McKinley and his entourage are so busy posing for photographs that no one

notices him.

4pm. The reception begins and McKinley starts shaking hands with the guests

lined up to meet him.

Saugus joins them.

4 .07pm.

Shulgus reaches McKinley and extends both hands towards him.

Suddenly, before anyone, including the president's bodyguards, realize what's

happening, two shots ring out.

McKinley staggers and slumps to the ground, while a shocked bodyguard knocks

Shulgus off his feet.

Within minutes, McKinley is put in an electric ambulance and rushed to the

exposition hospital at the Elmwood Avenue gate.

Meanwhile, as word spreads around the exposition, there's pandemonium.

People run headlong for the Temple of Music, some of them intent on lynching

Sholgat on the spot.

But he's quickly hustled away to police headquarters.

There, he freely admits that he meant to kill McKinley, saying he'd done it

because he didn't think one man should have so much power, while others have

none.

At first, McKinley seems to respond well to treatment.

One of the bullets which hit him is found and extracted.

But despite their best efforts, doctors are unable to locate the second.

Ironically, one of the world's first X -ray machines is on display at the

exposition.

However, the President's doctors are reluctant to use it in case it produces

unforeseen side effects.

Over the next few days, McKinley grows ever weaker.

Now everyone fears the worst.

September the 14th, Pan Expedition Hospital, Buffalo, 2 .15 a .m.

President McKinley dies after gangrene sets in.

Thirteen hours later, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as

president. He takes the oath at a mansion on Delaware Avenue, Buffalo.

Confident that McKinley was on the road to recovery, he departed from Buffalo

two days earlier for a camping and walking trip in the Adirondack

There had been no way of contacting him to let him know the worst had happened.

The next day, McKinley's body is removed for the journey back to Washington.

Once there, Huge, grief -stricken crowds turn out to watch the slow, stately

procession through the rain -soaked streets.

Then it's back to McKinley's hometown, Canton, Ohio, for the final funeral

service and burial on September the 18th.

The new president, Theodore Roosevelt, is waiting there for the train to

The news of McKinley's death sends shockwaves around the world.

Newspapers in London are printed with black borders.

Ships in the German Navy fly their flags at half -mast. And in Rome, the Pope

suspends all audiences.

September the 23rd, City Hall, courtroom, Buffalo, New York, 10 .15am.

The trial of Chalgus begins.

He's charged with first -degree murder.

During the short ensuing proceedings, Saugus' sanity is called into question.

But he doesn't take the stand in his own defense. The court is left to draw its

own conclusions.

September the 24th, 4 .25 p .m.

Faced with the irrefutable evidence of Saugus' guilt, Together with his ready

admission he'd killed the president, the jury declare him guilty of murder in

the first degree.

They also find him sane.

September the 26th, 2pm.

Chagas is brought back into court to hear his sentence.

When asked if he wishes to say anything first, he declares that he'd acted

entirely alone.

No one else was involved.

In particular, He exonerates Emma Goldman, who has been arrested and held

possible complicity in the plot to assassinate McKinley.

When he's finished, Chogos is sentenced to death for what the presiding judge,

Justice Suman C. White, describes as a crime which shocked and outraged the

moral sense of the civilized world.

September the 27th, Auburn State Prison, 3 .05 a .m.

Chagas arrives by train after a five -hour journey from Buffalo.

An angry mob awaits him, but he's protected from attack by a phalanx of

The man who'd assassinated a president has now just a month left to live.

October 29th, Auburn State Prison, 7 .05am.

With guards gripping him tightly by the arms, Leon Chagas is led into the

execution chamber.

He's strapped into the electric chair.

It's mounted on a platform covered in rubber.

As the last adjustments are being made, Sholga suddenly calls out, I am not

sorry. I did this for the working people.

My only regret is that I haven't been able to see my father.

Then he falls silent.

7 .12 a .m.

The signal is given.

A switch thrown, and 1 ,700 volts surge through Shogus for a full 45 seconds.

He slumps in the chair.

Then, just to make sure, the current is turned on again.

7 .14 a .m.

Shogus is pronounced dead.

A short time later, he's buried in the prison cemetery.

The following month, the Pan -American Exposition closes, and all the

including the Temple of Music, are demolished.

William McKinley is the third U .S. president killed in office, the first

Abraham Lincoln, shot on April 14, 1865, while visiting Ford's Theater in

Washington, D .C.

The second is James Garfield, gunned down on July 2, 1881.

at a railroad station in Washington, D .C., as he's waiting to depart on

vacation.

Following McKinley's assassination, the U .S. Congress demands that presidential

security be stepped up.

From now on, the president will be guarded at all times by members of the

Service.

But the fact is that no matter how popular or how well protected a U .S.

president might be, as history shows, There is always a risk that someone who

wishes him harm will get through.