The triumph of William McKinley : why the election of 1896 still matters / Karl Rove.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rove, Karl, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

McKinley, William, 1843-1901.

McKinley, William.

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925.

Bryan, William Jennings.

Presidents--United States--Election--1896.

Presidents.

United States--Politics and government--1893-1897.

United States.

Politics and government.

Presidents--Election.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

viii, 482 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2015.

Summary:

Examines "President William McKinley, whose 1896 campaign ended a bitter period of political gridlock and reformed and modernized his party, thereby creating a governing majority that dominated American politics for the next thirty-six years"--Amazon.com.

President William McKinley's 1896 campaign ended a bitter period of political gridlock and reformed and modernized his party; the result was a governing majority that dominated American politics for the next thirty-six years. Rove shows how McKinley's strategies offer important lessons for both political parties today.

"[From] Karl Rove comes a fresh look at President William McKinley, whose 1896 campaign ended a bitter period of political gridlock and reformed and modernized his party, thereby creating a governing majority that dominated American politics for the next thirty-six years. The 1896 political environment resembles that of today: A rapidly changing electorate affected by a growing immigrant population, an uncertain economy disrupted by new technologies, growing income inequality, and contentious issues the two parties could not resolve. McKinley found ways to address these challenges and win, which is why his campaign is so relevant to our politics now. McKinley, a Civil War hero who preferred 'The Major' above any other title he was given, changed the arc of American history by running the first truly modern presidential campaign. Knowing his party could only win if it grew beyond its base, he reached out to diverse ethnic groups, including openly seeking the endorsement of Catholic leaders and advocating for black voting rights. Running on the slogan 'The People Against the Bosses, ' McKinley also took on the machine men who dominated his own party. He deployed campaign tactics still used today, including targeting voters with the best available technology. Above all, he offered bold, controversial answers to the nation's most pressing challenge--how to make a new, more global economy work for every American--and although this split his own party, he won the White House by sticking to his principles, defeating a charismatic champion of economic populism, William Jennings Bryan. The 1896 election is a compelling drama in its own right, but McKinleys strategies offer important lessons for both political parties today."--Publisher website.

Contents:

Sense of duty

Early beginnings

Political apprenticeship

Rise and fall

Three steps closer, one step back

Resurrection

The Major's war plan

Audacious first strike

The people against the bosses

Democrats fall apart

Maneuvering

The battles begin

McKinley gains traction

High stakes in Springfield

Last-minute attacks before St. Louis

Battle for an idea

Credentials and currency fights

GOP Convention

Republicans' shaky start

The silver edge

The logic of the situation

Cross of gold

Change course or fail

Three revolts

The front-porch campaign

Message for the workingman

Closing arguments

Coercion and farm prices

McKinley's triumph.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 441-450) and index.

ISBN:

9781476752952

1476752958

9781476752969

1476752966

OCLC:

919068318