

25.A.) How William McKinley revolutionized politics, an interview with Christopher McKnight Nichols
10 snips Jan 17, 2022
In this conversation with Christopher McKnight Nichols, an expert on the Gilded Age and author of 'Promise and Peril', the spotlight is on William McKinley, who revolutionized political campaigning in 1896. They discuss McKinley’s groundbreaking fundraising strategies, his innovative partnership with Mark Hanna, and how McKinley's transformative tariff policies shaped American politics. The dialogue also touches on the tumultuous 1896 election, labor rights challenges, and McKinley’s adept use of the press, highlighting his lasting influence on modern political strategies.
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Tariffs Were The Central Political Issue
- Tariffs dominated late 19th-century U.S. politics and funded the federal government heavily.
- McKinley championed high protective tariffs to nurture infant industries and win industrial support.
Mark Hanna: The Ohio Power Broker
- Mark Hanna rose from Ohio business to become a powerful Republican organizer and eventual senator.
- He acted as a political bundler and media operator behind McKinley rather than a simple puppet-master.
1894 Midterms Set The Stage
- The 1894 midterms after the 1893 panic realigned parties and boosted Republican momentum into 1896.
- McKinley proved retail politics stamina by delivering hundreds of speeches across states before the 1896 campaign.