An assassin's bullet ended the life of William McKinley in 1901, making his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, an "accidental" president at the age of 42. Young and exuberant, the living symbol of the "strenuous life," TR embodied America at the turn of the century. A reformer who used the power of the government to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, TR extended the powers of the president and the role of the U.S. in international affairs. Yet, behind the vigor and optimism was a man shadowed by tragedy. Guide your students with this resource from American Experience: "TR: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt."