The Triumph of William McKinle

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 today: 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.

"Informed by his passion for history and by his love of strategy, Karl Rove has painted a colorful and detailed portrait of an important American moment. Highly recommended!"--Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion

"Either politics used to be more fun or Karl Rove just makes it seem that way. Whichever, his account of the 1896 election is written with great verve, even as it is informed by thorough research and illuminated by shrewd insight. This is political history at its most engaging."--H.W. Brands, Professor of History, University of Texas at Austin, and author of Traitor to His Class

"Karl Rove, who knows a thing or two about presidential campaigns, looks back at a watershed election over a century ago and shows how the winner, William McKinley, used it to change his party, the political process, and the nation. It's all here: the big themes, the backstage maneuvers, the personalities, the hoopla. A great read for historians, political junkies, and--in our own wild election cycle--Americans."--Richard Brookhiser, author of Founders' Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln

""The Triumph of McKinley "is the Triumph of Karl Rove. This is a rousing tale told by a master storyteller whose love of politics, campaigning, and combat shines through on every page. Both the man and his times are brought to such vivid life that I felt myself catapulted back to the turn of the last century. And it was great fun to be there!"--Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Team of Rivals

"The Triumph of McKinley "is the Triumph of Karl Rove. This is a rousing tale told by a master storyteller whose love of politics, campaigning, and combat shines through on every page. Both the man and his times are brought to such vivid life that I felt myself catapulted back to the turn of the last century. And it was great fun to be there! --Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Team of Rivals"

"With his groundbreaking book, "The Triumph of William McKinley," we gain deep insights into Rove s genius, an important episode in American history, and the fundamentals of modern politics. . . . [A] valuable contribution to the study of American history [and] practically a scientific manual any would-be influencer should digest deeply and thoroughly until the insights gained become instinctive reactions. One also discovers the deep insights which, love him or hate him, made and make Karl Rove himself a fixture in today s political scene."--W. R. Collier, Jr. "The Freedomist ""

"Having run--and won--two presidential campaigns, Karl Rove knows elections. The Triumph of William McKinley is a deeply informed and highly engaging account of one of the seminal elections in American history, the 1896 victory that ushered in more than a generation of Republican dominance. A vivid, intriguing and compellingly modern rendering of one of the most underappreciated episodes in American political history."--Charles Krauthammer, author of Things That Matter

The Triumph of McKinley is the Triumph of Karl Rove. This is a rousing tale told by a master storyteller whose love of politics, campaigning, and combat shines through on every page. Both the man and his times are brought to such vivid life that I felt myself catapulted back to the turn of the last century. And it was great fun to be there! --Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Team of Rivals"

"The Triumph of McKinley is the Triumph of Karl Rove. This is a rousing tale told by a master storyteller whose love of politics, campaigning, and combat shines through on every page. Both the man and his times are brought to such vivid life that I felt myself catapulted back to the turn of the last century. And it was great fun to be there!"--Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Team of Rivals

"With his groundbreaking book, The Triumph of William McKinley, we gain deep insights into Rove's genius, an important episode in American history, and the fundamentals of modern politics. . . . [A] valuable contribution to the study of American history [and] practically a scientific manual any would-be "influencer" should digest deeply and thoroughly until the insights gained become instinctive reactions. One also discovers the deep insights which, love him or hate him, made and make Karl Rove himself a fixture in today's political scene."--W. R. Collier, Jr. "The Freedomist "