William McKinley
The president who turned the U.S. into a global empire — McKinley's victory in the Spanish-American War gave America Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and set the country on a path of overseas intervention it's never left. He was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest U.S. Presidents of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank William McKinley significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
No entries on record.
Awards & Recognition
No Grammy data on record.
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25th President
Spanish-American War
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Guam acquisition
Open Door Policy (China)
Gold Standard Act
raised tariffs
assassinated by Leon Czolgosz 1901
McKinley became most commercially focused president
bridge to modern era
The Case For William McKinley
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for William McKinley.
Often Compared To
William Howard Taft
#2President / Republican — Cincinnati, Ohio · 1909–1913
The only person to serve as both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — and by most accounts, he preferred the Court. Taft actually busted more trusts than TR but got less credit for it, and his split with Roosevelt led to Wilson's election.
Warren G. Harding
#3President / Republican — Blooming Grove, Ohio · 1921–1923
The most corrupt administration before modern times — Teapot Dome, the Veterans Bureau scandal, and a series of Cabinet appointees who stole everything not nailed down. Harding was personally popular but intellectually limited, and he knew it. 'I am not fit for this office,' he reportedly said.