The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters

[Valin]

Conservative Book Club:

Karl Rove, the man hailed as “The Architect” of George W. Bush’s election as president, has a message for the Republican Party in 2016: It’s time to go back to the future.

 

In The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters, Rove perceptively explains how soft-spoken Ohioan William McKinley used a commitment to principle and an ability to get along with nearly everybody to succeed as a member of the House, as Governor of Ohio and finally as a presidential candidate.

 

He did not do it the way it was usually done in the 19th century. McKinley eschewed the way of the bosses at a time when bosses ran the party, without ever seriously offending those men who were key to political advancement.

 

McKinley’s great personal triumph, and there were many – the book could have been called the “Triumphs of William McKinley” – was to transform the nature of politics, from one driven by often corrupt state organizations into one driven by candidates and their own campaigns.

 

Mark Hanna, McKinley’s friend, mentor, and manager, was a boss of a different kind, dedicated to the advancement of his chosen candidate, rather than of the party machinery. Historians often give Hanna outsized credit for McKinley’s success. But Rove – the political operative – stresses that is was the candidate, not the operative, who was responsible. The “essential difference between McKinley and Hanna,” Rove writes, was that “McKinley knew there are no permanent enemies in politics.”

 

And when he needed friends, he had them (even if they weren’t always friendly). McKinley was able to win over New York’s Thomas Platt, known as the “Easy Boss” for his seemingly benign manner. “Behind his unflappable exterior was a man who settled scores,” writes Rove. He never really won over his Ohio GOP rival, the relentlessly ambitious Joseph Foraker, but he was able to neutralize him.

 

How McKinley did all this is the heart of Rove’s story. When it came down to it, McKinley always ran as a man of policy and principle, and never as a man of pure ambition or vindictiveness.

 

(Snip)

 

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[WestVirginiaRebel]

Unfortunately, Ohio has currently given us John Kasich...

 

It should also be noted that the newspapers of the time were often run by political parties/bosses. It didn't hurt McKinley and Hanna to have them on their side.

[Valin]

Unfortunately, Ohio has currently given us John Kasich...

 

It should also be noted that the newspapers of the time were often run by political parties/bosses. It didn't hurt McKinley and Hanna to have them on their side.

 

 

Not like today.