WILLIAM McKINLEY ~25th U.S. PRESIDENT ~ 1897-1901 ~ 24k GOLD-PLATED BRONZE ~ Unc

Description

Twenty-fifth President of the United States
WILLIAM McKINLEY
1897 – 1901
Financially backed by wealthy businessman Marcus Hanna, William McKinley ran against Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan and won by a considerable majority. McKinley came to the White House with 14 years’ congressional experience and two terms as Ohio’s governor under his political belt. One of his first actions as president was to call a special session of Congress that enacted the highest tariff in American history. Foreign policy dominated much of his administration. At America’s helm during the Spanish-American War, McKinley successfully pushed for the annexation of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico after Spain’s defeat. During his first term, McKinley elevated presidential power to a level not known since Washington’s era He easily won a second term, but a crazed anarchist shot him twice at the Pan-American Exposition. He died eight days later.