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

by Karl Rove

From New York Times bestselling author and political mastermind 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 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 McKinley’s strategies offer important lessons for both political parties today.

Genres: History, Biography, Presidents, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Us Presidents

483 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2015

About the author

Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until his resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. Since leaving the White House, Rove has worked as a political analyst and contributor for Fox News, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to his White House appointments, Rove was a Republican political consultant and strategist. Rove is credited with the successful 1994 and 1998 Texas gubernatorial victories of George W. Bush, as well as Bush's 2000 and 2004 successful presidential campaigns. Rove has also been credited for the successful campaigns of John Ashcroft (1994 U.S. Senate election), Bill Clements (1986 Texas gubernatorial election), Senator John Cornyn (2002 U.S. Senate election), Governor Rick Perry (1990 Texas Agriculture Commission election), and Phil Gramm (1982 U.S. House and 1984 U.S. Senate elections).

Rove's name has come up in a number of political scandals, including the Valerie Plame affair, the Bush White House e-mail controversy and the related dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have found McKinley an interesting president and have read a number of biographies about him. The topic of this book about McKinley caught my attention. But I hesitated reading it because the author was not a historian. After I thought about it, maybe the viewpoint of an expert in running political campaigns discussing running a 19th century campaign might be interesting.

The book is well written and researched. Rove does a good job of presenting both sides of the various issues of the day. Rove does provide some background about McKinley, but mostly the book is an in-depth analysis of the 1896 republican campaign. The book allowed me to look at McKinley from a slightly different viewpoint. Rove did outline why the election of 1896 still matters today. My only negative comment is about the narration; it would have been easier to listen to if done by a professional audiobook narrator.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fifteen hours twelve minutes. Karl Rove did a fair narration of the book.

[Neil Pierson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has to answer two obvious questions:

1. Why should I care about the successful presidential campaign of William McKinley, who was elected in 1896 (other than the obsession all of us feel about the 25th president)?

2. And if I do care, why would I rely on Karl Rove* to satisfy my curiosity?

As for #1, it sure isn't because the campaign issues are relevant today. The main issues were whether our currency should be based on a gold standard only and whether we should maintain high protective tariffs on foreign goods. In fact, part of the controversy about tariffs was that the federal government was collecting so much, it was running a huge surplus.

Problem solved!

While today's issues are different, the author probably sees some similarities between the political climate of the mid 1890s and today: A federal government so politically polarized that it could accomplish nothing; an alienated electorate that was bitterly divided and not along party lines; concentration of wealth; fear of immigrants. McKinley succeeded by acting in a principled way, stressing inclusion and unity instead of inflaming divisions, and by appointing campaign managers who were canny and exceptionally well organized. His Democratic opponent did none of these. Perhaps this provides some guidance for 2016 candidates, but does it justify 375 pages?

As for #2, why Karl Rove: Sure, he thinks McKinley was a splendid fellow, but he thinks George W. Bush is, too. Karl has a cred problem here. I thought he might have some unusual insight into the mechanics of a successful presidential campaign, but based on the above, his observations are pretty mainstream.


* My personal belief is that Karl Rove lies about everything, including whether he really wrote this book. I refer to him as the "author" for convenience.

[Aaron Million · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you did not know who Karl Rove is, or what he had done, after reading this highly entertaining account of the the 1896 election, you would consider him to be a gifted historian. That is how good Rove is here with his close examination of that election in particular, and William McKinley in general. This is not a partisan polemic, although one does get the sense that Rove might have a more difficult time writing about a successful Democratic campaign. Rather, it is an engaging piece of history that brings to life an election that has long been forgotten.

This is almost as much a biography of McKinley as it is an account of the election. Most of the firsdt half of the book is biographical in nature, reviewing McKinley's youth, Civil War service (he rose to the rank of Major and preferred to be called that for the rest of his life – in fact Rove often refers to him as “the Major”), and budding political career. Once McKinley is elected Governor of Ohio in 1891, Rove turns in earnest to McKinley's machinations to become President. Strangely enough, despite being Governor for four years, Rove does not mention anything that McKinley does while in office in relation to the actual job; he only writes about out-of-state trips that McKinley took. I found this odd, especially given that Rove went in-depth into McKinley's House of Representatives career. While not enough to mar the book, it does seem to be somewhat of an omission.

Rove's passion for electoral politics and deal-making is apparent once he shifts gears into campaign mode. He gives equal time to both parties, and even includes a discussion of the minority third party of the day, the Populist Party. The Democrats of Grover Cleveland were a mess, with the currency issue tearing them apart. At that time, the biggest issue in the country was over whether to remain on the gold standard, switch to silver, or have both currencies be used. The Democrats ended up nominating William Jennings Bryan from Nebraska, on a distinctly anti-gold platform, which was the opposite stance of what Cleveland, still the sitting President, had chosen. Rove, as he also does with the Republican convention, paints a vivid picture of the Democrats' confusion and fighting, and describes how Bryan went from being virtually unknown to becoming the nominee. His coverage of Bryan is not particularly positive, but I did not find it at all partisan.

Rove is also fairly level-headed about McKinley and the Republicans. In general, I would say he is favorable to them, but again not in a partisan manner. And he does offer criticisms where warranted, even occasionally calling out McKinley for saying something false. The conventions back then were the way to the nominations; this was before primaries and caucuses. Rove writes engagingly, providing plenty of anecdotes to keep things interesting. If anything, there are so many people introduced in the book that it becomes too much to keep track of all of them, and there were a few times where Rove started going state-by-state as far as discussing their delegations. While the writing stayed crisp, it did border on becoming a bit too much for me in trying to remember who everyone was and their respective positions were.

Overall this is a fun read about an election that marked a different way in which campaigns were won. McKinley had to adapt to a changing country and Republican Party, and he did so successfully. One need not be a fan of Rove's own personal politics to enjoy this book; they never come up. The best praise I can give is that, if Rove writes a sequel to this, covering McKinley's first term and the 1900 election, I would definitely read it.

Grade: B+

[Fred Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it to page 154 but am not continuing. It takes a special writer to make tariffs and coinage interesting, and Rove (or whoever wrote this) is not that writer.

[Lance Greenlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prospective readers of this book should be advised that at least the first half of this book is not really about McKinley, his life, and his beliefs. The person of McKinley fades into the background of campaigns and campaigning, political conventions and maneuverings to get this or that candidate nominated, who supported who and when they switched support. Rove simply does not do a good job with characterization; historical persons do not "come to life" in his writing. Although the book includes several photos of major characters, in writing, Rove almost never gives a physical description, or a description of mannerisms, or a character's way of speaking. The reader can't perceive disposition of important persons (Foraker would be an important exception). Rove does not include excerpts from speeches or quotes from personal letters to illuminate personalities. Rove is primarily interested in how many voted this way and how many that, and how many speeches were given here and how many there. Few readers will be interested in such tallies. His writing isn't opaque, or unnecessarily complicated or obscure in historical terminology, but this is still going to a tough read for many readers.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never expected to spend 400 pages of reading material with Republican strategist Karl Rove, but I knew almost nothing about President William McKinley and the reviews of the book were quite good. The reviews were accurate. Rove can tell a story even though the volume is heavily researched and documented. You will read more about gold versus silver as a currency basis than you will ever want to know. It was the major issue in the 1896 campaign, with William Jennings Bryan arguing that the country should not be crucified on a cross of gold. Rove wanders into the weeds with details on local elections and personalities, but you can tell he loves this stuff. He paints a picture of McKinley as an honorable and decent man who could pick talented staff and plan and organize a modern type of campaign, resisting the party bosses. Rove also fills in the social and economic conditions of the times, and his analysis is only occasionally mind-numbing. The narrative kept me turning the pages and I ended up admiring Rove for his commendable treatment of an under-documented era. A final plus was that Rove thanked his dog Nan for her help in getting him through the writing process.

[Thomas George Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although not a particular fan of Karl Rove, he has written an accurate and outstanding book on our 25th POTUS, and how William McKinley won the election in 1896.

Even the the Press and the Democrat Party always under estimated William McKinley. Both dismissed McKinley has a pawn under Political Boss Mark Hanna. McKinley was labeled a puppet of Hanna and 'Big Business.' Neither is an accurate picture of McKinley. Mr. Rove successfully captured McKinley's busy savvy and political acumen to win an election that he was not expected to win over the charismatic and orator William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was just 36 years old in 1896.

Even today most bias, liberal historians dismiss the McKinley presidency as nothing but a prelude to McKinley's successor, Teddy Roosevelt and his progressive era. But without William McKinley there would never had been a President Theodore Roosevelt. TR's political career was waning until McKinley appointed TR as Assistant Navy Secretary in 1897.

[John Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of 40 for 2016

In this crazy primary season I figured it would be interesting to read about an election cycle that was not a freak show.

Karl Rove presents his version of Making of a President 1896 in this well presented and informed view of what Rove believes is the model of the first modern campaign.

McKinley and Mark Hanna his main backer put together a plan a two years ahead of the election that would pave the path to the presidency. The goal was to expand the GOP base and to be independent of the GOP party bosses like Platt in NY.

McKinley would be the last president to have served in the civil war but the people through out the campaign of 1896 would all later play major roles in the 20th century. Beside McKinley's opponent in the general election William Jennings Bryan who would go on to be Secretary of State for Wilson we see the first appearances on the national state of Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Dawes who managed the campaign from Chicago and later to become Vice President under Coolidge. An interesting side fact is that both Roosevelt and Dawes would later go on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Rove does an excellent job of explaining how the conventions used to work before the rise of the primaries in the next century. Rove also guides the reader through how the McKinley campaign used the new modern tools to target voters that would be willing to listen to Mckinley'e message.

The main campaign issue in 1896 was the gold versus the silver standard an issues that McKinley did not immediately want to address but after the surprise nomination of Bryan became the main issue of the campaign.

I would defiantly encourage anyone tired of this dreadful primary year to pick this book up for a nice escape into a time where the system seemed to be working.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

McKinley ran the first modern campaign. He started about two years before placing key people in every state, small meetings and door to canvasing. For the first time the candidate was picked by the people and not so much the party or the favorite son. The campaign was also focused on the person and not the party.

McKinley once was gerrymandered out of his district, but went win the presidency when the demographics were against him. He used a message of unification and reconciliation. He held front porch speeches (literally on his own front porch), where he attracted supporters. His opponent Bryan barnstormed the country where he attracted only spectators. McKinley enlarged the party, talking to people Republicans previously ignored (we could use a few lessons today), which helped the GOP to hold the White House the next 28 out of 36 years.

Biggest pet peeve about this book: Rove needs to decide he would like to call McKinley: McKinley or Major, not both in the same paragraph. DECIDE!

[T.R. Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly one of the most unique Presidential biographies I've read. In fact, it may be inaccurate to even call it a biography, though it does share some narrative similarities. The book is almost closer to a military campaign analysis than a biography. Laying out the political battles, the field they were fought, and the strategy that was crucial to victory. Unsurprisingly, given the author, the book concentrates on the political campaigns of McKinley instead of his time in office. Rove provides rich details on the primary and general elections that propelled McKinley to office in 1896. In general, I found the book interesting and enjoyable. Though I may read another book about McKinley to get a picture of his Presidency.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit at the outset that I am pleasantly surprised by how good this book is, having never read a book from the former senior adviser to President George W Bush. When reading a book like this [1], one has to be very aware of the purpose and agenda of the book. No one writes books that are nearly 400 pages of core text without having a purpose, and when the book comes from someone involved in politics, the certainty of there being some kind of ulterior motive is even higher. In this particular case, the ulterior motive is pretty clear in that Rove has some definite ideas about what sort of Republican party there should be, arguing implicitly through his historical analysis of McKinley's rise to power that it was the inclusiveness of McKinley's vision for the GOP and his ability to avoid treating people as permanent enemies that allowed him to build an enduring coalition that lasted for nearly four decades of Republican dominance from 1896 to 1932. People reading this book in light of the 2016 election can come to different conclusions, like the fact that a candidate with commitment to the well-being of the commonfolk and a sense of optimism can undercut the power of political bosses through appealing directly to the grass roots of a party while building a successful coalition, even if the specific makeup of that coalition can differ. The triumph of McKinley, like any success, can be attributed to any number of factors, and different people may draw lessons from different factors than the author does given his own perspective and rhetorical aim.

This book is a sizable work, one that begins by giving the context of McKinley's life including his rise to power within the frequently decisive swing state of Ohio. Of the book's 29 chapters, roughly half of them take place before McKinley was chosen as the Republican nominee in 1896, itself a moment of drama, and about half of the chapters look at the campaign itself. Rove is part of a group of revisionist historians who view McKinley as more than a genial nonentity but as someone whose character, ideals, and ability to notice talent and successful recruit it make him a notable if somewhat transitional character in the tail end of one generation of politics with weak presidents and the lingering influence of the Civil War on the electorate and the beginning of the age of American imperialism. The book also spends a lot of time focusing on McKinley's opponent, the charismatic but radical and undisciplined William Jennings Bryan, whose rise to power gives Rove the chance to make some subtle (or not-so-subtle) digs at populism and its lack of broad appeal in the American republic, something which clearly has not been the case recently. Particularly of interest is the way that Rove demonstrates how McKinley drew correct insights about Bryan's rise and the dangers of straddling on the important issue of sound money, which allowed McKinley to build a coalition including conservative Democrats concerned about Bryan's radicalism.

What kind of book should one expect in reading this? Well, the book has an excellent style and is well-researched, with extensive endnotes. The author is genial and has a lot of positive comments to make about McKinley, and manages to keep his ulterior motives from being too offensive to the reader. If you a taste for detailed political reportage from about a century or so ago, and really enjoy the tactics and strategies and logistics of political campaigns, this is a good book. Despite the fact that I drew somewhat different lessons than the author did, I found this book to be a worthwhile combination of historical biography and election analysis, both of which happen to be genres of nonfiction writing I find to be enjoyable to read. To be sure, not everyone will find McKinley to be a winning character, although his high-minded ideals about racial and religious toleration and acceptance ought to be worthy of praise, and his knowledge of his own limitations as a stump speaker and his preference for prepared speeches led him to avoid trying to engage in a negative campaign against the pugnacious Bryan, but rather to play to his own strengths. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and we do best to play to our strengths while also making our opponent's strengths into weaknesses, something this book discusses very well, giving a compelling reason why we should care about the 1896 election in the face of a divided populace and the rise of populism and the concern among common people about the difficulties of rising to the level of one's abilities and ambitions.

[1] See, for example:

http://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMERICAN HISTORY/POLITICS
Karl Rove
The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters
Simon & Schuster
Hardcover, 978-1-4767-5295-2 (also available as an e-book, audio CD, and on Audible), 496 pgs., $32.50
November 24, 2015

So why does the election of a president more than one hundred years ago still matter today, you may well ask.

As it turns out, plenty. In an era when the nation was profoundly split between the South and the West, the North and the East, conflict between debtors and the financial class, sometimes fatal fights over how the economic pie should be allocated, and both parties employed procedure to gridlock Congress and caused the people to declare the whole place incompetent, McKinley circumvented the Republican party chiefs and “was the first president in more than two decades to win with a significant popular majority.” How did McKinley build a winning coalition out of these disparate interests?

The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters is Karl Rove’s lively, briskly paced, and meticulously organized answer to that question. But this book isn’t limited to the election; it is also a primer on American history, politics, and economics during the decades immediately following the Civil War. It compares and contrasts the politics of then and now and reminds us that history and politics are cyclical, and that there are patterns to be discerned and learned from, as is made evident in the modern campaigns of Nixon and Reagan. Perhaps someone should hide this book from Trump.

According to Rove, McKinley turned the system on its head and “ran the first modern presidential primary campaign.” Previously candidates had left the process to back room king-makers (“big dog Republicans”), rarely speaking publicly, but McKinley “began with an early, in-depth organization, structured, deliberate, and intense, run by men who were loyal to him.” McKinley’s strategy — “different as a modern factory was from a medieval workshop” — involved, for the first time, hand-picked audiences for the Front Porch, suggested talking points, and local color. Sound familiar?

Rove’s enthusiasm and appreciation for his subject results in an enjoyable reading experience, despite reams of facts, figures, and dates. This includes what is possibly the most easily understandable discussion of the usually esoteric realm of tariffs and currency that I’ve ever read. You don’t have to be a scholar to get it. The Byzantine machinations of convention politics and credentials challenges are rendered as comprehensible as is probably possible. The personalities of the major players — opponents and allies — are present on the page. Rove includes lighthearted leavening in descriptions of the conventions, where cocktails of bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar (called “the McKinley”) were sold, as well as canes “topped with a tin blob that resembled McKinley’s head.”

Rove concludes The Triumph of William McKinley with a look at why William Jennings Bryan lost the election, the three tasks that a campaign organization must complete, and an eight-point analysis of McKinley’s victory. It must be acknowledged, whether or not you agree with Rove’s politics, that he is one of the great political strategists of our time and an attentive, passionate student of history with command of massive amounts of data. He revels in the game and it shines through on every page of his book.

Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rove clearly wrote this book hoping that those involved in the 2016 electoral process, and I will say that, after reading the book, I share that hope.

Little did I know that Rove is a good historian. This is not some second-rate piece of political history. It is meticulously and thoroughly footnoted. Thankfully he holds off discussion of the subtitle (the "so what") until the end and mostly gives us a straight-up (and engrossing) narrative of the 1896 election. And a lot more, in fact. The work fills in McKinley's backstory quite nicely, illustrating why the man was so beloved for his character and graciousness.

The election itself was a bit nuts, thanks to screwy William Jennings Bryan (that day's version of Bernie Sanders, except even ruder) and the strange obsession with "free silver" that many Democrats had at the time. McKinley was for strong (gold-backed) currency, but in fact his main plank was protectionism via import tariffs. This is interesting because of how they have fallen out of favor today (and no honest free-marketer could support them). And yet they were a winning issue for McKinley time and time again, even along Eastern businessmen.

So why does McKinley's resounding 1896 victory still matter today? Because McKinley build a large coalition (including Catholics and immigrants). Because he was optimistic. Because he tackled the big issues. Because he widened the electoral battlefield. Because he attacked his opponent's strength. Because he resisted the party machinery when necessary. Because he focused on unity, not us-versus-them.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually 4.5. Took a little while to finish it, but worth the time. Fascinating book about a very important election in our history. Extremely well-written, worthwhile because of Karl Rove's profession as a campaign manager and consultant. As opposed to a history professor's view, we get a political operative's view, which can be extremely different. He also brings into focus a great, and unduly forgotten, American President. As Rove says, it is ironic that more is known today about the man he beat - William Jennings Bryan - and the man who succeeded him after McKinley's assassination - Theodore Roosevelt - then this fascinating, successful, inspiring man. Highly recommended for anyone interested in American history, particularly political history.

November 17, 2016. This book is still topical, particularly after this amazing election season. Bryan's "capture" of the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party in 1896, masterfully described by Rove, gave me the knowledge necessary to view Trump's nomination and victory in an American historical perspective. Bottom line, there is nothing new under the sun.

[Alexw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Rove whom George W Bush called the architect that won him the election has brilliantly wrote a book and also an application to run the Republican Presidential nominator in 2016. By showing how McKinley won the lection, Rove paints a picture how he understands election are won.
(spoiler alert) I never knew that McKinley was a Civil War Hero or had some family problems I feel his stature as one of our greater Presidents has been overlooked and Rove doesn't even delve into his 2nd term or when he got Theodore Roosevelt as his VP. I did enjoy this book but I enjoy most all political books.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I have enjoyed Karl Rove's analysis on television and I believe he sees things from an interesting perspective.

But the history was dull, I gained no insights into McKinley as a man, and the narration--well, let's just say that the author needs to stick to his role in politics and not venture into something more suited for an actor.

I do believe the work was well-researched, but it was just not "searching" enough into the mindsets of the day or what actually made McKinley tick. I do not recommend.

[Leila Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite interesting and informative! Well-written.

[John Bicknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of The Triumph of William McKinley: http://www.conservativebookclub.com/b...

[Steve Rice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I got what I bargained for. Karl Rove, a political operative and manager of campaigns, does a deep dive into the the issues and campaigns of McKinley and William Jennings Bryan in the election of 1896. Rove does a good enough job of covering the details of the election, but I got
bogged down in the minutiae of the state by state, vote by vote narrative, and had to slog through to finish the book.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is certainly a well-researched, detailed history of the 1896 presidential election contest between Republican William McKinley and young Democrat William Jennings Bryan. And Rove makes some convincing arguments about the relevance of that election to present-day politics. But I think it is definitely a book more for political professionals or political junkies than for general readers of history.

Rove describes the 1896 election as a watershed moment in American politics, which led to a realignment of the political parties and Republican electoral dominance for the following 40 years. He demonstrates that U.S. political conditions in the 1890s were similar to the polarized political climate today, even though the issues dividing the country may not have been the same.

Accordingly, Rove asserts that today's political parties and candidates can learn valuable lessons from analyzing the factors led to McKinley's success in the election. In the final chapter of the book, Rove discusses what he believes are the eight reasons for McKinley's victory. The reasons were undoubtedly strategic, but they also reflected McKinley's character. Without giving everything away, Rove says one reason McKinley won was "because he was a different kind of Republican who recognized his party must broaden and modernize its appeal or it would lose." Rove also asserts that McKinley "ran as a unifier, adopting the language of national reconciliation." This was in direct contrast to Bryan's divisive campaign, which appealed to class and sectional differences.

Rove says further that none of the strategies employed in McKinley's campaign would have been enough if McKinley himself had not been an attractive, compelling candidate with stellar personal character. As Rove states, "His integrity, empathy, courage, and loyalty gave many voters ample reason to believe he cared deeply about them." His public persona was so positive that adversaries knew that attacking him would backfire.

I give Rove high marks for building his case for why McKinley won the election, and for showing how McKinley's victory can be instructive for people in politics today. (Maybe start with finding a candidate whose personal character is widely admired?)

On the other hand, I give him lower marks for storytelling, at least in parts of the book. I found certain sections of the book to be long slogs during which my eyes glazed over. Specifically, the detailed descriptions of the innumerable primaries and caucuses seemed endless and often indistinguishable from one another. Likewise, so many characters were introduced that I found it difficult to remember who was who, especially for the majority of them who played relatively minor parts. (At least there are some photos of major characters, which I found were helpful in keeping them straight.) I understand that it's difficult to weave together a complex story with many moving parts like this one (I often have the same problem with military histories), especially in a historical context where many of the concerns, like the long-dead Free Silver argument, are arcane. But in my view the book didn't make some parts of the story come alive as well as it could have.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given all the recent talk about tariffs, this book and its substance is more relevant than ever! Karl Rove’s “The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters” is a vivid, strategic deep-dive into one of America’s most consequential and overlooked elections. Rather than a conventional biography, Rove crafts a meticulous narrative of Gilded Age politics, focusing on the fierce contest between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan—a battle waged not just over personalities, but over the very future of America’s economic system. Rove’s central thesis is that McKinley’s victory in 1896 marked a seismic shift in American politics, ushering in a new era of campaign tactics, party coalitions, and national priorities. The book is especially strong in its analysis of the gold versus silver debate, which dominated the era as fiercely as today’s cultural issues. Rove explains how McKinley’s embrace of the gold standard and protective tariffs appealed to a coalition of urban workers, immigrants, and business interests, while Bryan’s populist “free silver” crusade energized rural and agrarian voters. The author’s recounting of campaign innovations is particularly engaging. McKinley’s “front porch campaign,” orchestrated by political mastermind Mark Hanna, brought delegations to Canton, Ohio, for carefully staged events, while Bryan barnstormed the country by train. Rove details how McKinley’s team pioneered mass-produced campaign memorabilia and built an unprecedentedly organized national operation—lessons Rove believes remain relevant for modern strategists. While Rove’s admiration for McKinley is clear, he does not shy from criticism, noting the candidate’s limitations as a speaker and his dependence on wealthy backers. Some readers may find the cast of characters overwhelming and the focus on arcane currency debates dense at times. Yet, the book’s crisp prose and wealth of anecdotes enliven the political drama, making the complexities of late 19th-century politics accessible and compelling. Ultimately, Rove’s work succeeds as both a historical analysis and a campaign playbook, showing how McKinley’s victory shaped the Republican Party and American politics for decades. For anyone fascinated by the mechanics of elections or the roots of modern political strategy, this is an engrossing and instructive read.

[Christopher Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this book isn't really a biography of William McKinley. Its more of a biography of late Gilded Age politics and the currency wars of that era. Its also a subtle campaign book detailing the problems of the current Republican Party and what they can learn from the Republican Party of 1896 (or at least what Mr. Rove thinks they can learn). As an analysis of late Gilded Age politics, currency issues, and the divisions of the parties, its pretty good actually. The currency battles, which are so alien to today's readers, were the lifeblood of politics of that age (think abortion and gay marriage today).

Rove masterfully outlines the intricacies, political divisions, and men of that area while also explaining why the politics of gold and silver mattered to so many Americans (its some of the best writing I've seen on Gilded Age gold/silver politics in a while). I do like that the book also brings to life Ida McKinley (most books don't bother doing that) but after bringing her to life, her (along with McKinley himself) are pretty much buried and put on the back burner of gold/silver and convention politics. It feels like whole chapters go by without a mention of McKinley.

Throughout most of the book Rove subsumes his political biases and prescriptions but he can't help himself toward the end. William Jennings Bryan, who Rove portrays as a demagogue, comes across as either any current Democratic candidate (in Rove's view) or even Ted Cruz or Donald Trump. The book also plays up heavily the fact that moderate Democrats, so terrified by the prospect of William Jennings Bryan, bolted to form their own party so that moderate Democrats had a place to go and they could pick up the pieces after Bryan was crushed. Sounds eerily like what Bill Kristol and George Will have been saying should Trump get the nomination.

Some of the stuff in the book is laughable. McKinley, Rove argues, was an "outsider" and not beholden to political bosses unlike Speaker Thomas Reed. McKinley wasn't beholden to the same bosses as Reed, but Mark Hanna IS a political boss (which Rove seems to suggest he wasn't). Further, McKinley by 1896 had been in politics for nearly 20 years and had close contacts with just about every Republican who mattered in that area. There was a tariff act named after him. McKinley was many things (a war hero of unquestionable integrity) but an "outsider" he was not. On balance though, an good book by Rove.

[Greg Mcneilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE TRIUMPH OF WILLIAM McKINLEY: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters | Karl Rove | Simon & Schuster, 483 pages.

For students of American political history, this is a must read. Impeccably researched and fairly fluid in prose, the book traces the election of 1896 with all the context required to understand key players, their backgrounds and motivations, along with the issues and ideas of the day. Reading it during an election year makes it even more relevant and current.

McKinley’s win was so massive it created a three decade majority for his Party that dominated the nation until the segregationist Woodrow Wilson defeated Supreme Court Justice Hughes in 1916.

So how did McKinley win and what were the currents at play? Many of the same issues we still face: a growing immigrant population, an economy disrupted, and income inequality. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

McKinley’s campaign slogan, “The People Against the Bosses,” was shaped to attract Catholic voters as he advocated for black voting rights against the populist Democrat William Jennings Bryan. His campaign was managed by Party boss Mark Hanna.

Rove illustrates the new realty for many Americans, at this time, with the advent of indoor plumbing, the emergence of electricity and the growth of new modes of transportation and a recent recession. To all this turmoil the Democrats offered the snake-charm of a silver standard as opposed to McKinley’s defense of gold.

McKinley answered the “cross of gold” challenge by Bryan noting American workman ought to be paid in “100-cent dollars not 52-cent dollars.” Taking the issue of inflation or silver - that split both parties off the table - he proposed a series of protective tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing and farming. He outgrew his isolationism in both economics and foreign policy as he matured in office.

McKinley was a Civil War hero at 20, the Canton, Ohio native was gerrymandered out of Congress to become his state’s Governor. From there he was thrust onto the national stage that lead to his election and eventual assignation.

McKinley tackled big issues with solutions, broadened his Party’s base by adding - not subtracting - and projected an image of America based not upon its glorious past but by its promising future. Oh, where, oh where, has McKinley gone…

[Robert Federline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some authors should not read their own works. Karl Rove did not do as badly as many, however. By the end of the book he was trying to do separate voices and accents for some of the characters in the story. What is more important, however, is that he tells a story of politics and a changing tide in the world.

Many people find history is ruined for them when they are compelled in school to memorize dates and names that everyone knows will never come up in any conversation, nor in any decision that they will make in their lives. Nevertheless, history is important and should be studied by everyone to some degree. Many periods in history are practically overdone, primarily revolving around wars, such as the Civil War, the Revolutionary War or one of the World Wars. This book reminds us that important things happen in times of peace, and not only in times of war. It is also a good reminder that important things have happened in recent history. We need not go back to the time of the toga to find important occurrences.

The major challenge, of course, in studying more recent history is that sometimes we need the perspective of many years to properly evaluate an event, or measure its impact on society. Notwithstanding this challenge, Karl Rove did a good job in taking the weight and measure of the events he examined. He did an excellent job in assessing the sea change in politics and campaigning represented by the election of William McKinley. The impact of those changes is readily apparent today, and will continue to resonate for many years and elections into the future.

Many people may avoid this book because of the controversial nature of the author and the way in which he has been demonized by his opposition. That is a mistake. He is still an astute observer of politics and is able to analyze it accurately and well. Even those with whom we disagree have some level of knowledge they can impart to us if we are ourselves wise enough to look past personal emotions and examine the facts they set forth.

[Len Knighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, from this book. Perhaps the biggest lesson is that McKinley is much more than an answer to a trivia question concerning assassinated Presidents. His campaign for the nation's highest office began long before the Republican National Convention in 1896. He made friends and allies who played major roles in his formal campaign. He also established himself as his own man, one who would not be controlled by the big party bosses.
I was not sure I wanted to read a book by Karl Rove, wondering how objective he could be chronicling a Republican victory, but I found him to be fair in his assessment of the candidates and the issues.
Indeed, his focus on the two primary issues: tariffs and a gold or silver standard dropped my rating from 5 stars to four, not because of his writing but because these issues were a bit overwhelming for me.
One suggestion I would make for those writing books with many characters, especially but not limited to non-fiction: All characters should be referred to by their full name (first and last) the first time they are mentioned in a chapter. Rove's chapters were long and I think that would have helped me keep track of all the political players.
Despite the criticisms, this is a book I would recommend for lovers of Presidential history.

4 stars slightly waxing.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book both for the subject matter and the author. The 1896 election between Bryan and McKinley was perhaps the first modern election and in its course introduced many electioneering issues and tactics that are with us to this day. Tarriffs and monetary policy were also, then as now, important issues. So were questions of character, campaign style, tactics, the press, media outreach, use of proxies, get out the vote, and all manner of other things which are relevant today. Karl Rove is an excellent person to walk the reader through these issues, partially because he knows them so well, and partially because he can, in his telling, relate them to today without being to specific as to demolish the universal appeal of the work. If there is a failing, it is that the book is not that exciting narratively. Bryan largely seems to have done himself in, but this isn't really clear until the concluding chapter where Rove explains the nature of those errors and how McKinley took advantage of them, and how is so doing he revitalized the Republican Party. It was very interesting intellectually however, if not exciting narratively.

[Daniel Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karl Rove did a fantastic job with this book. I found it very interesting and the story-telling capabilities went perfectly with the research that Rove obviously put in. I did think that Rove could have made a better argument here. The premise of the book is that William McKinley’s 1896 election victory is still important to this day and has ramifications throughout American history; however, I did not find that argument to be all that compelling. William J. Bryan ran a truly awful campaign and McKinley ran an efficient one. That does not seem too groundbreaking to me. I am also not convinced that the “changes” McKinley brought were unique to him (let’s not forget he continued the old practice of not actively campaigning) and they may have had more to do with the times. Lastly, and this is totally personal preference, I found the drawn out passages on currency and minute economic principles to be tough reading. That being said, I thought this book was excellent and I would definitely recommend it!

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "The Triumph of William McKinley: Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters", Karl Rove looks at the very last presidential election of the 19th century & brings it to light in a way that makes it relevant to history today & the start of the modern political campaign. The book goes in depth with a mini-biography of William McKinley with his life in the Civil War through his decision to run for President in 1896. The book itself is a fascinating read & does a very good job of describing America in the late 1890s under Grover Cleveland's 2nd term as well as the effects the Panic of 1893 was having on the country as a whole. Each step of the way, we the reader witness the process of electing our nation's 25th President & a new style of campaigning that would set the tone for elections in the 20th century. It also in the final chapter acknowledges just what the impacts of the election would be on the future. Very, very well done.

[Thomas Radigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers William McKinley's life up to his being elected President in 1896 and stops at his moment of victory. The theme is not his Presidency but how he got there, and why he succeeded.

The book covers not only McKinley's life and family but how the country was at the time, politically, socially, and economically. McKinley was himself a major in the Union army and even wanted to be addressed as "Major", and he entered Republican politics after his military service and took various offices, fighting with and allying himself with other politicians in that era. The economy had gone bad and stayed bad since the 1870's and money and the economy were the biggest issues then. How McKinley successfully campaigned on this and other issues and how the Republicans worked to broaden their base while the Democrats did a lot of miscalculations is the major theme of this book. Very interesting tome from a man who has been a political operator himself.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for those political science geeks who are wanting to learn more about the past political scene in America. For me, this book really opened up my eyes to how brutal politics could be and how different they are from today's politics. I mean this book discusses how they simply use to not seat a duly elected representative because the opposition party wanted the majority instead. Going into depth on the political cunning and principle it takes to rise to the top of the executive branch, Karl Rove to a great service to political junkies with this literary work. Top marks for a well written and deeply informational book.