The Bull Moose Party was the nickname for the Progressive Party, founded by former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt** in 1912 after he lost the Republican nomination to his successor, William Howard Taft. Roosevelt’s platform pushed for progressive reforms: women’s suffrage, labor protections, environmental conservation, and breaking up corporate monopolies.
The name came from Roosevelt himself. When a would-be assassin shot him in the chest during the campaign, Roosevelt famously declared, “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose,” and proceeded to deliver a 90-minute speech before seeking medical attention. The bullet remained lodged in his chest for the rest of his life.
Why It Matters
The 1912 election was a political earthquake. Roosevelt split the Republican vote, handing the presidency to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. The Bull Moose Party remains the most successful third-party challenge in modern American history, winning 27% of the popular vote and 88 electoral votes — a record for a third party that still stands.
The party’s legacy lives on in progressive policies that were radical in 1912 and mainstream today: the eight-hour workday, minimum wage, social insurance, and direct election of senators.
Examples
- 1912 election: Wilson 435 electoral votes, Roosevelt 88, Taft 8.
- New Nationalism: Roosevelt’s progressive platform speech at Osawatomie, Kansas.
- John Schrank: The saloonkeeper who shot Roosevelt in Milwaukee.
Related Terms
- Progressive Era, third party
- Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson
- Monopoly, trust-busting, suffrage