ELECTION (1896)

McKinley's Political Party:              Republican Party

McKinley's Opponent(s):
William Jennings Bryan-                 Democratic Party
John M. Palmer-              National Democratic  Party

Election Facts:
The Republicans
    McKinley was the leading contender for the presidential nomination.  He had minimal opposition.  He was nominated on the first ballot with 661 1/2 votes.  Garret A. Hobart of New Jersey won the vice presidential nomination.

The Democrats
    Some Democrats wanted to renominate President Cleveland.  But he was an unpopular president.  He declined to enter the race.  After the president bowed out, Richard Bland was favored to win the nomination.  (He was a U.S. congressman from Missouri.)  The Democrats also had several other prominent candidates.  Everyone expected a close race.

    William Jennings Bryan was a former U.S. congressman from Nebraska.  He opposed Cleveland's policy of tying the value of the dollar to gold.  When the platform was being considered, Bryan delivered a stunning speech.  It became known as the "Cross of Gold" speech.  It overwhelmed the convention.

    Bryan was nominated on the 5th ballot.  (He was also nominated by the People's Party.)  Arthur Sewall of Maine was nominated for vice president.

The National Democrats
    The Democratic Party was divided in 1896.  The regular Democrats had nominated William Jennings Bryan.  The National Democrats were conservatives.  They supported President Cleveland's economic policies.  The National Democrats opposed Bryan's nomination.  They nominated John Palmer.  He was a U.S. senator from Illinois.  He was 79 years old.

The General Election Campaign
    The 1896 election was one of the most hotly contested presidential elections in U.S. history.  McKinley's organization imitated BENJAMIN HARRISON's 1888 campaign.  The Republicans named Mark Hanna campaign finance chairman.  The Ohio industrialist used his business contacts to raise large campaign contributions.

    The Republicans put their money to good use.  McKinley campaigned from his home.  Delegations of voters were brought to Ohio to meet with him.  His organization also set up a speakers' bureau.  Speakers were sent around the country to campaign for McKinley.

    Bryan's organization was much poorer.  He had to rely on his own public-speaking skills.  He crisscrossed the country and delivered 600 speeches.  Still, Bryan had little chance to win the election.  President Cleveland detested him.  (The president really wanted McKinley to win the election.  He supported Palmer.  He hoped Palmer would pull enough votes from Bryan to guarantee McKinley's election.)

The Election Results
    McKinley defeated Bryan by more than 550,000 votes popular votes.  He won 271 electoral votes and carried 23 states.  Bryan won 176 electoral votes and carried 22 states.  Palmer did not win any electoral votes.

ELECTION (1900)

McKinley's Political Party:         	    Republican Party

McKinley's Opponent(s):
William Jennings Bryan-                 Democratic Party

Election Facts:
The Republicans
    President McKinley was a popular incumbent.  He was renominated without opposition.  But Vice President Hobart had died in office.  The Republicans had to choose a vice presidential nominee.

    THEODORE ROOSEVELT was the popular choice to replace Hobart.  McKinley was not especially fond of Roosevelt.  He wanted William Allison for his vice president.  (Allison was a U.S. senator from Iowa.)  But the delegates liked Roosevelt.  McKinley left the choice to them.  Roosevelt won 925 of 926 possible votes.  (He declined to vote for himself.)

The General Election Campaign
    During the fall campaign, President McKinley remained at his home in Canton, Ohio.  But Roosevelt campaigned all over the country.  The Democrats faced certain defeat.  Bryan's campaign was dull and lackluster.

The Election Results
    McKinley defeated Bryan by more than 850,000 popular votes.  He won 292 electoral votes and carried 28 states.  Bryan won 155 electoral votes and carried 17 states.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY'S VICE PRESIDENT(S)

FIRST ADMINISTRATION (1897-1901):

Garret A. Hobart, New Jersey
Vice President (1897-1899).

Birth-       	1844
Death-	      1899
Profession-	Lawyer
Offices-	    Local political jobs in New Jersey.

Other Facts-
	Vice President Hobart died in office in 1899.

SECOND ADMINISTRATION (Mar. 4, 1901-Sept. 14, 1901):

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, New York
Vice President (Mar. 4, 1901-Sept. 14, 1901)