Presidency of William McKinley

This book serves up a history of the McKinley Administration. This administration is interesting because it is the first modern presidency. McKinley was the first to deal with America's place on the world stage, and modern communications. He was the first to deal with the modernization of industry and its affect on governmental structure. All these experiences are detailed in this book, and it is done so in a way that reflects the lack of certainty with which McKinley faced these issues. What we see is that many of today's traditions and structures rests on the informed opinion of a man dealing with a lack of complete knowledge. This happens time and time again during this administration and Gould gets it. This book is enjoyable and very readable, so get it and enjoy.

America emerged as a world power. After the Civil War, the idea spread that it is better to fight abroad. America fought the Spanish-American War in 1898 under McKinley. Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines were freed from Spain. Hawaii was annexed. Alaska's highest mountain and the highest in North America was named after McKinley although the state of Alaska prefers to call it by its Indian name, Denali. McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist named Leon Franz Czolgosz.

This is one of the best in the UKanss Presidency series. Gould makes an effective argument that McKinley was the first modern president. This account helps to dispell the notion that McKinley was no different than the other Gilded Age Presidents. A really good read!