First published 2017
Historian Robert Merry argues that William McKinley deserves recognition as one of America's most consequential presidents. McKinley's achievements have been overshadowed by his successor Theodore Roosevelt, who inherited and expanded upon policies McKinley initiated. During his presidency from 1897 to 1901, McKinley transformed America into a global power. He established the gold standard, ending decades of monetary disputes. The Spanish-American War expelled Spain from the Caribbean and freed Cuba. McKinley acquired Hawaii and the Philippines, opening American influence in the Pacific. He forced China to accept the Open Door policy and built closer ties with Britain. These actions created America's non-colonial imperial system that would dominate the twentieth century. Merry traces McKinley's life from his Ohio childhood through his Civil War service to his assassination six months into his second term. The book reveals how this quiet, methodical leader accomplished sweeping changes through careful press management and expanded executive authority. Merry contends that McKinley's low ranking among presidents fails to reflect his lasting impact on America's global role.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: America, Caribbean, China, Cuba, Hawaii, Ohio, Pacific, Philippines, Spain
Period: 1897-1901, Civil War
608 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster