Syndetics cover image
Image from Syndetics

President McKinley : architect of the American century / Robert W. Merry.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York, NY : Simon & Schuster, [2017]Copyright date: ©2017Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover editionDescription: x, 608 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781451625448
  • 1451625448
  • 9781451625455
  • 1451625456
Other title:
  • Architect of the American century
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
Introduction -- Ohio roots -- The forge of war -- Life and work -- The Ohio Republicans -- Steadfast protectionist -- Four years in Columbus -- The Major versus the bosses -- St. Louis triumph -- The victor -- Building a cabinet -- Inauguration Day -- Taking charge -- White House life -- Cuba -- Year-end assessment -- America and Spain -- Path to war -- Victory at sea -- The Caribbean War -- End of hostilities -- Empire -- War's aftermath -- Aguinaldo -- Second-term question -- Second-term resolve -- China -- Reelection -- Family and nation -- Buffalo -- Epilogue.
Summary: "In this great American story, acclaimed historian Robert Merry resurrects the presidential reputation of William McKinley, which loses out to the brilliant and flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt who succeeded him after his assassination. He portrays McKinley as a chief executive of consequence whose low place in the presidential rankings does not reflect his enduring accomplishments and the stamp he put on the country's future role in the world"-- Provided by publisher.Summary: "Lively, definitive, eye-opening, [this book] by acclaimed historian Robert W. Merry brilliantly evokes the life and presidency of William McKinley, cut short by an assassin. Most often lost in the shadow of his brilliant and flamboyant successor, TR, the twenty-fifth president is presented by Merry as a transformative figure, the first modern Republican. It was President McKinley who established the United States as an imperial power. In the Spanish-American War he kicked Spain out of the Caribbean; in the Pacific he acquired Hawaii and the Philippines through war and diplomacy; he took the country to a strict gold standard; he developed the doctrine of 'fair trade'; he forced the 'Open Door' to China; and he forged the 'special relationship' with Great Britain. McKinley established the noncolonial imperialism that took America global. He set the stage for the bold leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, who built on his accomplishments. [This book] brings to life a sympathetic man and an often overlooked president. Merry raises his rank to a chief executive of consequence who paved the way for the American Century."--Dust jacket.
Fiction notes: Click to open in new window
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library Biography McKinley W. M573 Available 33111008682748
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"A deft character study of a president."-- The New York Times Book Review

"A valuable education on where America has been and, possibly, where it is going."-- National Review

"Magisterial."-- The Christian Science Monitor

In this great American story, acclaimed historian Robert Merry resurrects the presidential reputation of William McKinley, which loses out to the brilliant and flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt who succeeded him after his assassination. He portrays McKinley as a chief executive of consequence whose low place in the presidential rankings does not reflect his enduring accomplishments and the stamp he put on the country's future role in the world.

Republican President William McKinley in his two terms as president (1897 - 1901) transformed America. He established the US as an imperial power. Although he does not register large in either public memory or in historians' rankings, in this revealing account, Robert W. Merry unfolds the mystery of how this bland man managed so much powerful change.

McKinley settled decades of monetary controversy by taking the country to a strict gold standard; in the Spanish-American war he kicked Spain out of the Caribbean and liberated Cuba from Spain; in the Pacific he acquired Hawaii and the Philippines through war and diplomacy; he developed the doctrine of "fair trade"; forced the "Open Door" to China; forged our "special relationship" with Great Britain. In short, he established the non-colonial imperialism that took America into global preeminence. He expanded executive power and managed public opinion through his quiet manipulation of the press. McKinley paved the way for the bold and flamboyant leadership of his famous successor, Teddy Roosevelt, who built on his accomplishments (and got credit for them).

Merry writes movingly about McKinley's admirable personal life, from his simple Midwestern upbringing to his Civil War heroism to his brave comportment just moments before his death by assassination (it was only six months into his second term when he was shot). Lively, definitive, and eye-opening, President McKinley resurrects this overlooked president and places him squarely on the list of one of the most important.

"November 2017"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [491]-583) and index.

Introduction -- Ohio roots -- The forge of war -- Life and work -- The Ohio Republicans -- Steadfast protectionist -- Four years in Columbus -- The Major versus the bosses -- St. Louis triumph -- The victor -- Building a cabinet -- Inauguration Day -- Taking charge -- White House life -- Cuba -- Year-end assessment -- America and Spain -- Path to war -- Victory at sea -- The Caribbean War -- End of hostilities -- Empire -- War's aftermath -- Aguinaldo -- Second-term question -- Second-term resolve -- China -- Reelection -- Family and nation -- Buffalo -- Epilogue.

"In this great American story, acclaimed historian Robert Merry resurrects the presidential reputation of William McKinley, which loses out to the brilliant and flamboyant Theodore Roosevelt who succeeded him after his assassination. He portrays McKinley as a chief executive of consequence whose low place in the presidential rankings does not reflect his enduring accomplishments and the stamp he put on the country's future role in the world"-- Provided by publisher.

"Lively, definitive, eye-opening, [this book] by acclaimed historian Robert W. Merry brilliantly evokes the life and presidency of William McKinley, cut short by an assassin. Most often lost in the shadow of his brilliant and flamboyant successor, TR, the twenty-fifth president is presented by Merry as a transformative figure, the first modern Republican. It was President McKinley who established the United States as an imperial power. In the Spanish-American War he kicked Spain out of the Caribbean; in the Pacific he acquired Hawaii and the Philippines through war and diplomacy; he took the country to a strict gold standard; he developed the doctrine of 'fair trade'; he forced the 'Open Door' to China; and he forged the 'special relationship' with Great Britain. McKinley established the noncolonial imperialism that took America global. He set the stage for the bold leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, who built on his accomplishments. [This book] brings to life a sympathetic man and an often overlooked president. Merry raises his rank to a chief executive of consequence who paved the way for the American Century."--Dust jacket.

Powered by Koha