jan 4, 1896 - William McKinley (R) elected

Description:

- Businesses rallied to support McKinley against his opponent, William Jennings Bryan
- While Bryan toured the country, McKinley stayed at home and hosted important visitors, building an honest, "presidential" image
- Author of highest peacetime tariff ever
- Silver is the BIG issue -- Bryan fails to gain more support because of his staunch support for silver
- McKinley's election over Bryan influenced future political races by setting up interest groups and alliances that lasted for more than a decade
- Assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz