THE McKINLEY ASSASSINATION HISTORICAL SITE

On September 6, 1901, in Buffalo, New York at the Pan-American Exposition, a young man with a slender face and blonde-brown hair walked up to the President of the United States in a greeter's line at the Temple of Music exhibit with a handkerchief bandaged around his right hand. Under the handkerchief was a .32 caliber Johnson revolver. Two quick shots rang out.

The young man who shot President William McKinley was a twenty-eight year old named LEON CZOLGOSZ (pronounced cholgosh). Czolgosz was an independent anarchist, who though having met with prominent anarchists of the day such as Emma Goldman, had no legitimate connection with them. The Anarchist movement fiercely believed that all rulers, governing officials, rich capitalists, and ordained clergy should be wiped out. Czolgosz believed the death of the President of the United States would generate positive press of his movement and send fear through other leaders warning them to change their ways.