William McKinley
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Narrated by:
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Richard Rohan
About this listen
A best-selling historian and political commentator reconsiders McKinley’s overshadowed legacy....
By any serious measurement, best selling historian Kevin Phillips argues, William McKinley was a major American president. It was during his administration that the United States made its diplomatic and military debut as a world power. McKinley was one of eight presidents who, either in the White House or on the battlefield, stood as principals in successful wars, and he was among the six or seven to take office in what became recognized as a major realignment of the U.S. party system.
Phillips argues that McKinley’s lackluster ratings have been sustained not by unjust biographers but by years of criticism about his personality, indirect methodologies, middle-class demeanor, and tactical inability to inspire the American public. In this powerful and persuasive biography, Phillips musters convincing evidence that McKinley’s desire to heal, renew prosperity, and reunite the country qualify him for promotion into the ranks of the best chief executives.
©2003 Brenda Z. Guiberson (P)2003 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Sobel instead exposes the real Coolidge, whose legacy as the most Jeffersonian of all twentieth-century presidents still reverberates today. Sobel delves into the record to show how Coolidge cut taxes four times, had a budget surplus every year in office, and cut the national debt by a third in a period of unprecedented economic growth.
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A Book Exciting As It's Subject!!!
- By Ted on 08-28-12
By: Robert Sobel
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A History of the American People
- By: Paul Johnson
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 48 hrs and 15 mins
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Johnson's monumental history of the United States, from the first settlers to the Clinton administration, covers every aspect of American culture: politics, business, art, literature, science, society and customs, complex traditions, and religious beliefs. The story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character.
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A British conservative's view of American history.
- By Mike From Mesa on 06-17-09
By: Paul Johnson
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Grover Cleveland
- By: Henry F. Graff
- Narrated by: Ira Claffey
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
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Though often overlooked, Grover Cleveland was a significant figure in American presidential history. Having run for President three times and gaining the popular vote majority each time, Cleveland was unique in the line of nineteenth-century Chief Executives. Presidential historian Henry F. Graff revives Cleveland's fame, explaining how he fought to restore stature to the office in the wake of several weak administrations.
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Unexceptional Book about unexceptional President
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By: Henry F. Graff
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Rule and Ruin
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The chaotic events leading up to Mitt Romney's defeat in the 2012 election indicated how far the Republican Party had rocketed rightward away from the center of public opinion. Republicans in Congress threatened to shut down the government and force a U.S. debt default. Tea Party activists mounted primary challenges against Republican officeholders who appeared to exhibit too much pragmatism or independence. Moderation and compromise were dirty words in the Republican presidential debates. The GOP, it seemed, had suddenly become a party of ideological purity. Except this development is not new at all.
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Kabaservice doesn't make the case
- By MJE on 01-22-16
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To Make Men Free
- A History of the Republican Party
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- Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson traces the shifting ideology of the Republican Party from the antebellum era to the Great Recession. While progressive Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower revived Lincoln’s vision and expanded the government, their opponents appealed to Americans’ latent racism and xenophobia to regain political power, linking taxation and regulation to redistribution and socialism. In the modern era, the schism within the Republican Party has grown wider, pulling the GOP ever further from its founding principles.
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Fascinating read!
- By Marsha on 12-27-21
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The Triumph of William McKinley
- Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters
- By: Karl Rove
- Narrated by: Karl Rove
- Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins
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From New York Times best-selling author and political mastermind Karl Rove comes a fresh look at President William McKinley, who found a message that healed his nation, pried his party away from its bosses, and extended its reach to forge a governing majority that lasted 30 years.
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Understand Modern Presidential Campaigns
- By Anon on 02-27-16
By: Karl Rove
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Over Here
- The First World War and American Society
- By: David M. Kennedy
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 17 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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The Great War of 1914-1918 confronted the United States with one of the most wrenching crises in the nation's history. It also left a residue of disruption and disillusion that spawned an even more ruinous conflict scarcely a generation later. Over Here is the single most comprehensive discussion of the impact of World War I on American society.
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Good HISTORY AWFUL READING
- By Magyar on 02-05-20
By: David M. Kennedy
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The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Presidents
- From Wilson to Obama
- By: Steven F. Hayward
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
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Academics, journalists, and popular historians agree: our greatest presidents are the ones who confronted a national crisis and mobilized the entire nation to face it. That’s the conventional wisdom. The chief executives who are celebrated in textbooks and placed in the top echelon of presidents in surveys of experts are the bold leaders - the Woodrow Wilsons and Franklin Roosevelts - who reshaped the United States in line with their grand “vision” for America. Unfortunately, along the way, these “great” presidents inevitably expanded government - and shrank our liberties.
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Really enjoyed it
- By Jkc-007 on 02-15-17
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In 1901, as America tallied its gains from a period of unprecedented imperial expansion, an assassin's bullet shattered the nation's confidence. The shocking murder of President William McKinley threw into stark relief the emerging new world order of what would come to be known as the American Century.
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An Ideal History Book for the Audio Format
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Although he is often overlooked in American history today, few presidents marked a turning point for the country quite like William McKinley. As the last president to have served in the Civil War, he represented the end of an era, while at the same time his pro-business policies set in motion the Progressive Era, a period almost universally associated with Theodore Roosevelt.
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Poor
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Unexceptional Book about unexceptional President
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This is a major political biography of a great American president - who won a war, transformed the government, and doubled the size of the United States...in four years. When Polk was sworn in as the 11th president, what followed was one of the most consequential presidencies in history.
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Polk: One of our most important Preidents
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He's the butt of political jokes, frequently subjected to ridicule, and almost never absent a "Worst Presidents" list where he most often ends up at the bottom. Historians have labeled him the "Worst President Ever," "Dead Last," "Unfit," and "Incompetent," to name but a few. Many contemporaries were equally cruel. H. L. Mencken called him a "nitwit." To Alice Roosevelt Longworth, he was a "slob."
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Excellent clarification
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The Triumph of William McKinley
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William McKinley
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Poor
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This is a major political biography of a great American president - who won a war, transformed the government, and doubled the size of the United States...in four years. When Polk was sworn in as the 11th president, what followed was one of the most consequential presidencies in history.
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He's the butt of political jokes, frequently subjected to ridicule, and almost never absent a "Worst Presidents" list where he most often ends up at the bottom. Historians have labeled him the "Worst President Ever," "Dead Last," "Unfit," and "Incompetent," to name but a few. Many contemporaries were equally cruel. H. L. Mencken called him a "nitwit." To Alice Roosevelt Longworth, he was a "slob."
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Excellent clarification
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Well Written & Narrated But Too Much Hero Worship
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Over the course of his life, James Madison changed the United States three times: First, he designed the Constitution, led the struggle for its adoption and ratification, then drafted the Bill of Rights. As an older, cannier politician, he cofounded the original Republican party, setting the course of American political partisanship. Finally, having pioneered a foreign policy based on economic sanctions, he took the United States into a high-risk conflict, becoming the first wartime president and, despite the odds, winning.
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What listeners say about William McKinley
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David O
- 09-28-24
Plenty of facts; but noticeably short on anecdotal stories.
The narrator did an excellent job with what he had to work with. This book reads like a college level textbook.
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- Joel Hawksley
- 01-27-24
A Masterful Exploration of a Neglected Legacy
In the realm of historical audiobooks, "William McKinley" is a remarkable work that brilliantly reevaluates the often-overshadowed legacy of a significant American president. Authored by the acclaimed historian and political commentator Kevin Phillips, with a compelling narration by Richard Rohan, this audiobook sheds light on McKinley's pivotal role in shaping the United States. It challenges the historical narratives that have relegated him to the shadows.
The audiobook's strength is meticulously examining McKinley's presidency, particularly highlighting the diplomatic and military milestones that marked the United States' emergence as a global power. Phillips skillfully weaves together historical events, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of McKinley's impactful contributions. The narrative is engaging and insightful, making complex political maneuvers accessible to listeners of all backgrounds.
Richard Rohan's narration deserves commendation for its clarity and eloquence. Rohan's well-spoken delivery enhances the audiobook experience, allowing the audience to absorb the content effortlessly. His articulate narration brings life to the historical accounts, making it a pleasure to follow McKinley's journey through the intricacies of his presidency.
One of the audiobook's significant accomplishments is challenging the persistent underrating of McKinley. Phillips convincingly argues that historical critiques have unfairly focused on personality, indirect methodologies, middle-class demeanor, and tactical shortcomings. Instead, the author emphasizes McKinley's profound desire to heal, promote prosperity, and reunite the nation, positioning him as one of the best chief executives.
Macmillan Audio's production quality is top-notch, and the company is unwaveringly committed to delivering high-quality audiobook experiences. The unabridged format ensures listeners receive a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of McKinley's life and presidency.
"William McKinley" is a masterful audiobook that revisits history and challenges preconceived notions, urging listeners to reconsider the legacy of a president who played a crucial role in shaping the nation. Kevin Phillips and Richard Rohan have crafted a compelling narrative that captivates and educates, making this audiobook a must-listen for history enthusiasts and casual listeners.
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- Eckhart
- 04-30-12
Ends Certain Misperceptions about McKinley
Where does William McKinley rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This book is a few years old and can drag on occasions. It cites a lot of facts and requires some knowledge of Reconstruction Era/Gilded Age American history to fully appreciate. But it covers and era that is not well-studied, but has strong parallels to the present.
What was one of the most memorable moments of William McKinley?
Understanding how McKinley was not an arch-conservative and laid the groundwork for the modern progressive movement.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Jean
- 02-17-15
Thought-provoking
William McKinley (1843-1901) was president from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. He was the twenty-five president of the United States. McKinley was a strong governor of Ohio and a decisive president whose stern looks hid a thoughtful and gentle man. William McKinley was a Civil war veteran and a Lincoln Republican.
Phillip details how McKinley presided over the emergence of the United States as a world power in the Spanish-American war. McKinley’s election in 1890 ushered in approximately forty years of Republican political dominance.
Phillip points out that McKinley was one of eight presidents, who either in the White House or on the battlefield, led the nation in successful Wars; and he was among the six or seven to take office in what become recognized as a major realignment of the United States’ party system. McKinley was among the sixteen United States presidents elected to two terms, and avoided the tarnish of major scandal.
The author points out that McKinley was a “hinge president,” whose first term ushered in the 20th century, and who ‘presided over the fruition of the Northern or Yankee version of U.S. expansionism, a commercial manifest destiny tied to increasing American exports.’
In 1901 McKinley was assassinated by a deranged anarchist’. McKinley’s vice president Theodore Roosevelt took over the presidency and carried on McKinley’s moderate platform. Roosevelt’s charisma overshadowed McKinley over historical time.
This book is more of a political analysis of William McKinley rather than a biography as Phillips tell what other historians have written about McKinley and argues with many of them. The book is narrated by Richard Rohan.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Sassy Sally
- 01-19-22
facts and figures
brilliantly researched, this book reads more like an abstract for a doctoral dissertation. this book is not written in the vein of meacham or Goodwin and that it is not a fascinating narrative nonfiction account of the man and key things that happened in his administration. for example it merely mentions the fact that the annexation of Hawaii but does not explore the moral issues surrounding that annexation and our treatment of the Hawaiian Queen or does it give any in-depth information about McKinley's lack of response to the 1898 race riots in Wilmington North Carolina
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- Karl Clark
- 05-08-19
Incomplete
A Lot of details here but not a single word on how or why he was Assassinated. Where is he berried? How did people react/respond? Not much on military strategy other than communication from the White House.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Chris
- 02-06-24
Lots of details in a not so long book
This isn’t your typical 20+ hour biography, but it sure fits in a lot of details! Truthfully this book probably needed to be 4x as long so the author could fully review everything. However, even with not being super long this book fits in alot of details and background information a history nerd like myself loves.
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- Michael M
- 07-02-20
Interesting but with no coherent timeline
This was worth the listen. But unlike other notable biographies, this was non-sequential meaning the events were not necessarily in order, jumping back and forth from McKinley’s presidency, governorship, ame so forth, which
Makes it a less that ideal choice for the audiobook format.
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-31-20
Assassination not discussed!
Why was the assassination not covered? Who did it? Why? Where? A two term president died at a young age in office and the assassination is not covered in the book. Bizarre
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- B.K.
- 02-23-18
Disappointing
If you want a five-hour lecture about why McKinley is historically under-ranked as a president, this book is for you. If you are looking for a linear discussion of McKinley’s accomplishments, or just a coherent narrative, look elsewhere. The author assumes you’ve read other McKinley biographies and are well-versed in his life and presidency. It is only a value-add to the extent you want to revisit what you already know about McKinley with a more favorable lens. The author is argumentative and biased, and spends too much space speculating about what McKinley might have accomplished with two full terms. If you are looking to learn about the 25th president, don’t start here.
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