The volume opens with a detailed, graphic account of the presidential shooting and its immediate aftermath, including eyewitness reports, the capture of the attacker, and the emergency medical response. It recounts the wounded leader's weeklong fight for life, the deathbed scene and the national mourning that followed, concluding with funeral rites. The narrative then traces his life from childhood through Civil War service to successive political offices, describing campaigns, governance, and major administration policies. Chapters detail management of the Spanish-American conflict, expansion and commercial growth. Separate sections examine the assassin's motives, anarchist influences including Emma Goldman, and a history of related political violence. The text is profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs and scene pictures.