History & Words: ‘Mendacious’ (September 6)
Welcome to ‘History & Words.’ I’m Prashant, founder of Wordpandit and the Learning Inc. Network. This series combines my passion for language learning with historical context. Each entry explores a word’s significance on a specific date, enhancing vocabulary while deepening understanding of history. Join me in this journey of words through time.
🔍 Word of the Day: Mendacious
Pronunciation: /mɛnˈdeɪʃəs/ (men-DAY-shus)
🌍 Introduction
On September 6, 1901, President William McKinley fell victim to a mendacious assassination attempt at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. His assailant, Leon Czolgosz, approached the president with a handkerchief-wrapped hand, appearing to be an ordinary citizen waiting to shake hands with the nation’s leader. This deceptive facade concealed a .32 caliber revolver, which Czolgosz used to fire two shots at point-blank range into the president’s abdomen. McKinley would succumb to his wounds eight days later, becoming the third U.S. president to be assassinated.
The word “mendacious” perfectly captures Czolgosz’s calculated deception—a deliberate misrepresentation designed to gain proximity to his target. By feigning the innocent gesture of a handshake while concealing lethal intent, the assassin embodied the essence of mendacity: a conscious effort to mislead through appearance and action rather than merely through spoken falsehoods.
This shocking act of deception occurred during what should have been a celebratory occasion, as President McKinley had just delivered a well-received speech about American prosperity and trade policy at the exposition the previous day. The contrast between the public optimism of the exposition—showcasing American progress and innovation at the dawn of the 20th century—and the deadly mendacity that unfolded within its grounds added to the national trauma that followed.
🌱 Etymology
The word “mendacious” derives from the Latin “mendax” or “mendac-,” meaning “lying” or “false,” which itself comes from “mentiri,” meaning “to lie.” It entered English in the mid-16th century, initially used primarily in literary and formal contexts to describe deliberate falsehoods or deceptive behaviors intended to mislead others. While related to lying, “mendacious” carries a stronger connotation of calculated deception rather than mere dishonesty, often implying a pattern of behavior designed to manipulate through false appearances or statements.
📖 Key Vocabulary
- 🔑 Anarchism: A political philosophy advocating the elimination of hierarchical governance, which motivated Czolgosz’s actions against McKinley
- 🔑 Assassination: The murder of a prominent person, typically for political reasons
- 🔑 Pan-American Exposition: The 1901 world’s fair in Buffalo where the shooting occurred, celebrating progress and unity among nations of the Americas
- 🔑 Succession: The constitutional process by which Theodore Roosevelt, as vice president, assumed the presidency following McKinley’s death
🏛️ Historical Context
The concept of mendacity—deliberate deception for strategic advantage—has played a significant role throughout human history, from ancient military stratagems to modern political manipulations. Assassinations, particularly those facilitated through deception, represent one of the most extreme manifestations of mendacious tactics used to achieve political ends.
Political assassinations have ancient roots, with notable examples including Julius Caesar in 44 BCE and numerous rulers throughout medieval and early modern history. By the late 19th century, a wave of high-profile assassinations swept across the world, often conducted by anarchists or other radical political actors who rejected established governmental authority. Between 1881 and 1901, assassins claimed the lives of Russian Tsar Alexander II, French President Sadi Carnot, Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and King Umberto I of Italy.
In the United States, McKinley’s assassination followed those of Presidents Abraham Lincoln (1865) and James Garfield (1881), continuing a troubling pattern of political violence. The late 19th century was marked by significant social and economic upheaval as industrialization transformed American society, creating both unprecedented wealth and severe inequalities. Labor conflicts, economic depressions, and the rise of anarchist and other radical movements created a volatile political environment.
Leon Czolgosz, a 28-year-old former factory worker, had become influenced by anarchist ideas, particularly after hearing a speech by the prominent anarchist Emma Goldman. Though not formally affiliated with any anarchist organization, he claimed to have acted on behalf of the working classes against perceived oppression by government and business leaders like McKinley.
⏳ Timeline
- March 4, 1897: William McKinley inaugurated as 25th President of the United States
- April 25, 1898: Spanish-American War begins under McKinley’s administration
- December 10, 1898: Treaty of Paris ends Spanish-American War
- June 19, 1900: McKinley renominated with Theodore Roosevelt as his running mate
- November 6, 1900: McKinley re-elected president
- May 1, 1901: Pan-American Exposition opens in Buffalo, New York
- September 5, 1901: McKinley delivers address at the exposition
- September 6, 1901: Czolgosz shoots McKinley at the exposition
- September 14, 1901: McKinley dies from his wounds; Theodore Roosevelt becomes president
- September 16, 1901: McKinley’s funeral held in Canton, Ohio
- October 29, 1901: Czolgosz executed by electric chair
🌟 The Day’s Significance
September 6, 1901, began as a day of public engagement for President McKinley. After his successful speech the previous day, he had scheduled a reception at the Temple of Music on the exposition grounds, where citizens would have the rare opportunity to meet their president in person. Security was present but minimal by modern standards, reflecting an era when presidential accessibility was valued over protective measures.
At approximately 4:07 PM, Czolgosz joined the receiving line, waiting his turn while concealing his weapon. When he reached McKinley, he extended his left hand as if to shake the president’s hand while his right hand, wrapped in a handkerchief as though bandaged, concealed the revolver. This mendacious approach—appearing as a respectful citizen while planning violence—allowed him to circumvent the limited security measures in place.
As McKinley reached to shake his hand, Czolgosz fired twice at close range. One bullet grazed the president and caused only a superficial wound, but the second penetrated his abdomen, damaging vital organs. Bystanders and guards immediately subdued Czolgosz, while the wounded president was rushed to the exposition hospital for emergency surgery.
Initially, McKinley’s prognosis seemed promising, and bulletins over the following days reported his apparent recovery. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt and other officials who had rushed to Buffalo began to disperse, believing the crisis had passed. However, gangrene had developed along the bullet’s path, and McKinley’s condition deteriorated rapidly on September 13. He died in the early morning hours of September 14, plunging the nation into mourning and elevating Roosevelt to the presidency.
💬 Quote
“I did it for the good of the laboring people, the good people. I am not sorry for my crime.” – Leon Czolgosz’s confession after assassinating President McKinley
🔮 Modern Usage and Reflection
Today, “mendacious” typically describes deliberately untruthful statements or deceptive behaviors, often in political, legal, or personal contexts. The concept remains particularly relevant in discussions of political manipulation, media distortion, and the ethics of public discourse.
The mendacious tactics employed by Czolgosz prompted significant changes in presidential security. The assassination highlighted the vulnerability of public officials and led to the Secret Service assuming formal responsibility for presidential protection in 1902, fundamentally altering the relationship between American presidents and the public they serve.
The event also contributed to changing public perceptions of anarchism and radical political movements. Though most anarchist organizations denounced the assassination, the public and media often conflated all anarchists with violence, leading to restrictive immigration laws and crackdowns on radical political groups in the early 20th century.
🏛️ Legacy
The assassination of President McKinley had profound and lasting consequences for American politics and society. The most immediate effect was the elevation of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency. At 42, Roosevelt became the youngest president in American history and would go on to significantly reshape American domestic and foreign policy through his Progressive agenda and assertive international stance.
McKinley’s death also accelerated the modernization of presidential security, beginning a transformation that would eventually create the elaborate protective measures surrounding modern presidents. The practice of open presidential receptions, where any citizen could meet the chief executive with minimal screening, ended with McKinley.
The assassination contributed to the broader social and political climate of the early 20th century, influencing debates about immigration, political radicalism, and social reform that would shape American policy for decades to come.
🔍 Comparative Analysis
The mendacity displayed in McKinley’s assassination differs significantly from previous presidential assassinations. While John Wilkes Booth’s attack on Lincoln occurred in a public theater and Charles Guiteau shot Garfield in a railway station, both acted more overtly. Czolgosz’s approach—feigning a respectful greeting while concealing his weapon—represented a particularly calculated deception that exploited social conventions of the time.
This pattern of deceptive assassination has unfortunate parallels throughout history, from ancient times to modern day, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of public figures to those willing to employ mendacious tactics to gain proximity to their targets.
💡 Did You Know?
🎓 Conclusion
The assassination of President McKinley on September 6, 1901, stands as a stark example of how mendacity can be weaponized to devastating effect. The calculated deception employed by Leon Czolgosz fundamentally altered the course of American history, elevating Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency and transforming the relationship between U.S. presidents and the public. This tragic event reminds us that mendacious actions—not just words—can have profound historical consequences, reshaping security protocols, political landscapes, and public discourse. As we reflect on this anniversary, we are reminded of both the vulnerability of democratic institutions and their resilience in the face of violence.
📚 Further Reading
- 📘 “The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century” by Scott Miller
- 📗 “Dark Horse: The Surprise Election and Political Murder of President James A. Garfield” by Kenneth D. Ackerman
- 📙 “The Temple of Music” by Jonathan Lowy (historical fiction based on the assassination)
