Wild and Wacky Elections

During his bid for a second full term, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt stood at the podium and unbuttoned his vest. He revealed a bloodstained shirt and told his supporters, “I have just been shot!” Despite the assassination attempt, the former president gave an hour-and-a-half-long speech. Roosevelt went on to lose the election, but the speech itself helped save his life. The bullets passed through 50 pages of written remarks Roosevelt had in his jacket pocket. This slowed the bullets to a less damaging speed.

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was running for a second full term as president. He was about to make a speech. He stood at the podium. He unbuttoned his vest. His shirt was stained with blood. Roosevelt told his supporters, “I have just been shot!” Someone had tried to assassinate him. The former president still gave his speech. It lasted for an hour and a half. Roosevelt lost the election. But the speech itself helped save his life. Roosevelt had kept his written speech in his jacket pocket. It was 50 pages long. The bullets passed through those 50 pages of writing. This slowed the bullets to a less damaging speed.

In 1920, Eugene Debs ran his fifth campaign for president from an unusual place—prison! As leader of the Socialist Party and a protester against World War I, many people in government considered him a threat. Debs was arrested and jailed for his speeches. But he also became a celebrity for his positions. Debs lost, but he earned almost 1 million out of the 26 million votes cast in this election.

Eugene Debs ran for president in 1920. It was his fifth campaign. He ran it from an unusual place—prison! Debs was the leader of the Socialist Party. He had protested against World War I. Many people in government considered him a threat. Debs was arrested and jailed for his speeches. But he also became a celebrity for his positions. Debs lost. But he earned almost 1 million out of the 26 million votes cast in the 1920 election.

There are 538 electors in all. The number of electors allotted to each state depends on that state’s population.

There are 538 electors in all. The number of electors in each state depends on that state’s population.