Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore Roosevelt's America

For this meeting of the Mile High History Book Club, we'll be reading and discussing Eric Raunchway's Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore Roosevelt's America, a gripping exploration of how an assassin’s bullet ended one era of American politics and ushered in the modern age under Theodore Roosevelt.

The book is around 270 pages long.

If you don't think you'll have time to read the book, but still want to join the discussion, or if you're trying to decide whether you want to commit to reading this book, you can listen to this interview with the author.

Book Description

When President William McKinley was shot by an anarchist in 1901, Americans were forced to confront a new world of political radicalism, rapid industrialization, and an uncertain future. In Murdering McKinley, historian Eric Rauchway explores not only the assassination but also the social and political upheaval it reflected.

Through the lens of the investigation and the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, the book examines how the tragedy reshaped the presidency, the nation’s understanding of justice, and the direction of the 20th century. It’s a compelling narrative of a nation at a turning point, told with insight and urgency.