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after the president made me the offer of the mission to Germany。 I did not understand the language and felt that I could be of little service there； and so declined。
When President McKinley was lying seriously wounded at Buffalo from the shot of the anarchist Czolgosz； I went there to see if anything could be done for his comfort。 For some time there was hope he would recover； and that it would be better for him to go to Washington。 I made every arrangement to take him to the capital if the doctors decided it could be done。 But suddenly； as is always the case with wounds of that kind； a crisis arrived in which he died。
Vice…President Roosevelt was camping in the Adirondacks。 A message reached him； and the next morning he arrived in Buffalo。 The Cabinet of Mr。 McKinley decided that the vice…president should be at once inaugurated as president。 Colonel Roosevelt was a guest at the house of Mr。 Ainsley Wilcox。 He invited me to witness his inauguration； which occurred the same evening。 It was a small company gathered in the parlor of Mr。 Wilcox's house。 Elihu Root； secretary of state； choking with emotion and in a voice full of tears； made a speech which was a beautiful tribute to the dead president and a clear statement of the necessity of immediate action to avoid an interregnum in the government。 John Raymond Hazel； United States district judge； administered the oath； and the new president delivered a brief and affecting answer to Mr。 Root's address。
This inauguration was in pathetic and simple contrast to that which had preceded at the Capitol at Washington。 Among the few present was Senator Mark Hanna。 He had been more instrumental than any one in the United States in the selection of Mr。 McKinley for president and his triumphant election。 Mr。 McKinley put absolute trust in Hanna； and Hanna was the most powerful personality in the country。 No two men in public life were ever so admirably fitted for each other as President McKinley and Senator Hanna。 The day before the death of the president Hanna could look forward to four years of increasing power and usefulness with the president who had just been re…elected。 But as he walked with me from Mr。 Wilcox's house that night； he felt keenly that he never could have any such relation with Colonel Roosevelt。 He was personally exceedingly fond of Mr。 McKinley； and to his grief at the death of his friend was added a full apprehension of his changed position in American public life。
XlV。 THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The bullet of the assassin had ended fatally； and McKinley was no more。 Theodore Roosevelt； vice…president； became president。 Few recognized at the time there had come into the presidency of the United States one of the most remarkable； capable； and original men who ever occupied the White House。
During the following seven years President Roosevelt not only occupied but filled the stage of public affairs in the United States。 Even now； two years or more after his death； with the exception of President Wilson； Roosevelt is the best known American in the world。 It is difficult to predict the future because of the idealization which sometimes though rarely occurs in regard to public men； but Colonel Roosevelt is rapidly taking a position as third； with Washington and Lincoln as the other two。
My relations with Colonel Roosevelt were always most interesting。 His father； who was a cordial friend of mine； was one of the foremost citizens of New York。 In all civic duties and many philanthropies he occupied a first place。 The public activities of the father had great influence in forming the character and directing the ambitions of his son。
Mr。 Roosevelt entered public life very early and； as with everything with him； always in a dramatic way。 One of the interesting characters of New York City was Frederick Gibbs； who was an active politician and a district leader。 Gibbs afterwards became the national committeeman from New York on the Republican national committee。 When he died he left a collection of pictures which； to the astonishment of everybody； showed that he was a liberal and discriminating patron of art。
Gibbs had a district difficult to manage； because； commencing in the slums it ran up to Fifth Avenue。 It was normally Democratic； but he managed to keep his party alive and often to win； and so gained the reputation that he was in league with Tammany。 He came to me one day and said： 〃Our organization has lost the confidence of the 'highbrows。' They have not a great many votes； but their names carry weight and their contributions are invaluable in campaigns。 To regain their confidence we are thinking of nominating for member of the legislature young Theodore Roosevelt； who has just returned from Harvard。 What do you think of it？〃
Of course； I advocated it very warmly。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃we will have a dinner at Delmonico's。 It will be composed entirely of 'highbrows。' We wish you to make the principal speech； introducing young Roosevelt； who； of course； will respond。 I will not be at the dinner； but I will be in the pantry。〃
The dinner was a phenomenal success。 About three hundred in dress suits； white vests； and white neckties were discussing the situation； saying： 〃Where did these stories and slanders originate in regard to our district ； about its being an annex of Tammany and with Tammany affiliations？ We are the district； and we all know each other。〃
Young Roosevelt； when he rose to speak； looked about eighteen years old； though he was twenty…three。 His speech was carefully prepared； and he read it from a manuscript。 It was remarkable in the emphatic way in which he first stated the evils in the city； State； and national governments； and how he would correct them if he ever had the opportunity。 It is a curious realization of youthful aspirations that every one of those opportunities came to him； and in each of them he made history and permanent fame。
The term of office of Frank Black； Governor of the State of New York； was about expiring。 Black was a man of great ability and courage。 The people had voted nine millions of dollars to improve the Erie Canal。 There were persistent rumors of fraud in the work。 Governor Black ordered an investigation through an able committee which he appointed。 The committee discovered that about a million dollars had been wasted or stolen。 Black at once took measures to recover the money if possible and to prosecute the guilty。 The opposition took advantage of this to create the impression in the public mind of the corruption of the Republican administration。 The acute question was： 〃Should Governor Black be renominated？〃
Colonel Roosevelt had just returned from Cuba； where he had won great reputation in command of the Rough Riders； and he and his command were in camp on Long Island。
Senator Platt； the State leader； was accustomed to consult me； and his confidence in my judgment was the greater from the fact that he knew that I wanted nothing； while most of the people who surrounded the leader were recipients of his favor； and either the holders of offices or expecting some consideration。 He asked me to come and see him at Manhattan Beach。 As usual； he enter