Reviews for The triumph of William McKinley : why the election of 1896 still matters
Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
The U.S. presidential election of 1896 was a realigning and redesigning watershed that ushered in a Republican ascendency that lasted until the advent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Former presidential consultant and policy advisor Rove (Courage and Consequence) uses primary sources and histories of the era to place the principles and groundbreaking campaign tactics of William McKinley (1843-1901), rather than his often lauded operative Mark Hanna, at the heart of an analytical account about resolving political gridlock. The last Civil War veteran to become president, McKinley countered his opponent William Jennings Bryan by championing sound money and the tariff; appealing to immigrants, laborers, first-time voters, Catholics, and African Americans; emphasizing his status as an outsider not beholden to previous practices; appearing as a unifier and purveyor of optimism; and using extant tactics such as targeted literature and repeated get-out-the-vote canvassing. These methods permitted an updated version of a traditional front-porch campaign, with representatives visiting his home in Canton, OH, rather than engaging in political stumping like Bryan. Unquestioned in character and empathy, McKinley listened to others and seldom attacked opponents by name. McKinley's presidency ended an economic depression while expanding and diversifying his party, although it also brought the United States into an era of overseas involvement. VERDICT This substantive book by a political practitioner will appeal to and inform all readers, especially aficionados of American political history.-Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Lib. of -Congress, Washington, DC © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Longtime GOP strategist and political consultant Rove (Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight, 2010) examines the rise to power of William McKinley during a fated moment in the country's history. McKinley, perhaps best known by Americans for the Alaskan mountain that once bore his name and the infamy of being one of the few American presidents to have been assassinated, was a vital and critical link in the history of the presidency. As Rove argues, McKinley's rise to power in the election of 1896 resolved many of the issues that had dogged American politics since the end of the Civil War, ushering in a realignment of political priorities and a drive into the modern era. Though this is often attributed to his vice president and successor, Theodore Roosevelt, Rove insists that McKinley laid the foundation for the party's dominance from 1896 to 1932. As a natural-born leader and orator who quickly rose to the rank of major in the Union Army during the Civil War, McKinley practiced law in Canton, Ohio, before entering his freshman year in Congress at the age of 34 in 1877. Ever loyal to the Republican Party, it was not until the 1894 midterm cycle that McKinley began to forge his image as a possible presidential candidate after a relentless stumping tour that brought him national attention. Rove proves himself a surprisingly nimble and adept writer, juxtaposing shrewd political analysis with narrative verve. He expertly breaks down the challenges of McKinley's 1896 campaign, which he calls "the first modern presidential primary campaign"namely, the battle over currency and his policy of protective tariffs. Set against the backdrop of the ongoing recession caused by the Panic of 1893, McKinley's campaign and defeat of Democrat William Jennings Bryan ensured support of "sound" money (gold) and would lead to the American century. A well-informed and -researched dissection of McKinley's overlooked influence. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
