The Triumph of William McKinley

Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters

By: Karl Rove

Narrated by: Karl Rove

A fresh look at President William McKinley from New York Times bestselling author and political mastermind Karl Rove—“a rousing tale told by a master storyteller whose love of politics, campaigning, and combat shines through on every page” (Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Team of Rivals).

The 1896 political environment resembles that of today: an electorate being transformed by a growing immigrant population, an uncertain economy disrupted by new technologies, growing income inequality, and basic political questions the two parties could not resolve. McKinley’s winning presidential campaign addressed these challenges and reformed his party. With “a sure touch [and] professional eye” (The Washington Post), Rove tells the story of the 1896 election and shows why McKinley won, creating a governing majority that dominated American politics for the next thirty-six years.

McKinley, a Civil War hero, changed the arc of American history by running the first truly modern presidential campaign. Knowing his party needed to expand its base to win, he reached out to diverse ethnic groups, 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 problem—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 champion of economic populism, William Jennings Bryan.

Rove “brings to life the drama of an electoral contest whose outcome seemed uncertain to the candidate and his handlers until the end” (The New York Times Book Review) in a “lively and…rigorous book” (The Wall Street Journal) that will delight students of American political history.

President McKinley and the Temper of his Time

Rove writes well, but his read performance is average at best. Nevertheless, this bio is well worth listening to as it is one of the most accessible explanations of the birth of 20th century politics.

Understand Modern Presidential Campaigns

Would you listen to The Triumph of William McKinley again? Why?

Yes. This book will reward a second reading since there is a lot of new background information about 19th Century politics that explains how McKinley was elected President.

What other book might you compare The Triumph of William McKinley to and why?

Any book from the "Making of a President" series.

What three words best describe Karl Rove’s performance?

Decent--no actor.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

Readers who bring a contrary opinion about Rove to the reading of this book will not enjoy this book. I say lighten up! Rove understands how elections work and how to get a candidate elected to the highest state or national office. This book is written by one of the leading political campaign strategists today (the equal on the Democratic side is David Axelrod). Rove is not manipulating the reader; he is providing a reasonably objective account of McKinley the man, the politician and his campaigns for public office up to and including his Presidential campaign. The book is an account of how McKinley rose to the Presidency by examining the strategy of his successive campaigns. It provides a pretty good account of the competing 1896 campaigns, and explains why McKinley won. Most historians agree with Rove's conclusions about the campaign, but they cannot hope to write an account from the point of view of someone like Rove, who has actually successfully managed Presidential campaigns. Rove also explains why modern political campaigns are the active, aggressive, personal campaigns we are seeing today.

Just as important today as it was then.

Just finished this tremendous book. I STRONGLY encourage my fellow Republicans to read it, for it is just as germane in 2016 as it was in 1896. This sentence from Rove encapsulated the message and method that President McKinley employed in his campaign:

"Politics is a game of addition, but Bryant played subtraction and McKinley took advantage of it."

Of course this is a very thinly veiled admonishment to all of us that if The Donald continues on the perilous path that he's on, we will wind up with another impeachable President Clinton.......

Interesting, insightful and very Karl Rove

I didn't know if I would like this book, not because I have strong feeling about KR, but because I had no strong feeling about McKinley. I was pleasantly surprised how interesting McKinley was, the issues and debates of his time, and twists and turns of the election of 1896. Make no mistakes, this is very Karl Rove. What I mean is this is telling of the ELECTION of 1896 really not about William McKinley (though he does a good job summarizing his life and the time he lives in) or his presidency, It is the nuts and bolt details of the strategies, sub plots and almost day to day campaign of 1896. Karl Rove expertise comes through and he is able to make an interesting story out an all but forgot election and frankly president. Karl is able to makes the case that McKinley should not be forgot and the 1896 election has ramifications still felt in our times. A must read for political junkies and anyone who wants to learn more about an under discussed period of American history.

For History Buffs and Political Junkies

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to any history buff, or any political junkie. For most everyone else, it's a pretty long recap of McKinly and his life