In a powerfully written and persuasive biography, bestselling historian and political commentator Kevin Phillips reconsiders McKinley's overshadowed legacy, arguing that his lackluster ratings have been sustained by unjust biographers.
Read More
In a powerfully written and persuasive biography, bestselling historian and political commentator Kevin Phillips reconsiders McKinley's overshadowed legacy, arguing that his lackluster ratings have been sustained by unjust biographers.
Read Less
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $1.25, good condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good in good dust jacket. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear.
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $3.90, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill of the Olympics rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from TACOMA, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by St. Martins Press-3PL.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. An acceptable and readable copy. All pages are intact, and the spine and cover are also intact. This item may have light highlighting, writing or underlining through out the book, curled corners, missing dust jacket and or stickers.
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $3.91, good condition, Sold by Central Valley Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fresno, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by St. Martins Press-3PL.
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $4.99, good condition, Sold by St. Vinnie's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by St. Martins Press-3PL.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Hardcover This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly.
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $5.00, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $6.49, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of William McKinley to cart. $8.00, very good condition, Sold by Browse Awhile Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tipp City, OH, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $9.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $9.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of William McKinley: the American Presidents Series: the to cart. $9.99, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Times Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
William McKinley In The American Presidents Series
In his short biography, "William McKinley" (2003), political commentator Kevin Phillips brings his own background and perspective to bear in his assessment of the 25th president. McKinley (1843 -- 1901) was the first 20th Century president (1897 -- 1901). He was elected to two terms, but he was assassinated early in the second term. Theodore Roosevelt was his successor. Kevin Phillips was a Republican strategist in his early years but has since moved on. His short McKinley biography captures his interest in consensus building, political moderation, and respect for the American center and middle class. The book is part of the American Presidents series edited by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Willentz. The short biographies in this series serve both to introduce the presidents to contemporary busy readers and to allow the authors to offer new insights into the chief executives and their differing styles of leadership.
Phillips' book is unabashedly revisionistic in its assessment of McKinley. For a short study, the work is full of detail, argument, and discussion of the shortcomings of earlier portrayals of McKinley. The approach is provocative and probably has a good deal to recommend it in allowing the reader to understand McKinley and the America of his day. But the writing tends to become over polemical and agenda driven. Phillips does not give the reader as much of the specifics of McKinley's administration as he might have in a short introductory biography. He doesn't tell the reader anything about McKinley's assassination, other than that it happened.
Phillips aptly sees McKinley as a pivotal president who consolidated a new American majority and ended decades of post-Civil War divisions in both parties in the United States. Phillips finds that McKinley achieved major realignments in three areas: politics, economics, and foreign policy which set the tone for much subsequent American history. McKinley's administration was definitive in its tarrif policy its commitment to the gold standard and its expansive vision of America's role in the world, particularly in alliance with Great Britain. These policies were valuable in their day and, Phillips argues, McKinley implemented them with more flexibility and subtlety than did some of his successors. Phillips tends to see McKinley as Progressive. He put Teddy Roosevelt on the ticket as Vice-president when he did not have to do so. And Phillips argues at probably too much length that Roosevelt's progressivism followed through on McKinley's administration rather than changing its direction. Phillips' arguments in this respect rest uneasily with what he takes to be McKinley's conservative, consensus building strengths.
The McKinley that emerges from this book is a strong leader who endeavored to be inclusive and to work with many of the competing elements of American society at the time, especially labor. Phillips works to rebut the stereotype that McKinley was the tool of corporate bosses such as Mark Hanna and argues instead that McKinley was in control of his own agenda and went his own way. But I found that what is primarily at stake in Phillips' account is his admiration for McKinley's stolidity, his unobtrusive but deeply-felt Protestantism, his middle-class values, patriotism, and work ethic. Phillips tends to think these values are underestimated or disfavored by many people in a position to mold public or intellectual opinion; and this part of the study still tends, for me, to ring true. Phillips writes:
"The tendency of twentieth-century opinion molders to underrate effective two-term Republican presidents of middle-brow mien is one strand in my concluding chapter. Rebuilding the middle-class fabric of a torn and divided nation is an achievement for which GOP presidents, not least William McKinley, have gotten too little credit."
In other words, there is a tendency to prefer dynamic, charistmatic leaders who function in crisis times over the virtues of ecumenicism and comptetence. Phillips finds a tendency to downgrade the virtues of middle of the road, conservative leaders such as McKinley whose presidency shows a "desire to heal, renew prosperity, and reunite." These qualities, Phillips argues, show that McKinley's presidency deserves more respect than it customarily receives.
Phillips book is dense and not easy to read for a basic biography. The argumentation is excessive and overdone, but Phillips' points are worth hearing and considering. This book meets the purpose of the American Presidents series in that it presents its subject in a lively, informed, and interesting way. It will encourage the reader to think freshly about McKinley, American leadership, and American history.
