ELECTION #29, 1900. The NASTY-METER is 3.

QUOTE from Mark Hanna while speaking to the Republican convention delegates on Teddy Roosevelt being chosen as McKinley's VP running mate in 1900: "Don't any of you realize that there is only one life between that madman (Roosevelt) and the presidency."

McKinley had been a good president and turned the U.S. into a world power by winning the Spanish-America War (1898) and acquiring Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines in the process plus annexing Hawaii, also in 1898. The Depression of the 1890s had ended with the advent of good harvests, rising prices, and new gold discoveries in Alaska, Australia, and South Africa (these doubled the world's supply of gold and allowed the Treasury Department to issue more banknotes.)

The CANDIDATES in 1900.

REPUBLICAN: WILLIAM McKINLEY.

It was a foregone conclusion that McKinley would be the Republican nominee again. The big question was who was going to be his VP running mate. His first VP had died in office in 1899 so a new one had to be chosen. The main contender appeared to be Teddy Roosevelt, the hero of the Spanish-American War who as leader of the "Rough Riders" had won the battle of San Juan Hill. He was well-known and very popular. The only problem was Mark Hanna, the Republican power broker - he hated Roosevelt's manic energy and impulsiveness. Regardless of Hanna's feelings about Roosevelt McKinley left it up to the convention to choose his VP and they chose Teddy Roosevelt.

DEMOCRAT: WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

The Democrats nominated Bryan again, dooming their candidate to another hopeless fight. With the discovery of more gold his silver issue was dead.

The CAMPAIGN in 1900.

Bryan went after McKinley on imperialism and the stranglehold of trusts and monopolies on American business, but people didn't care. The Republicans said, "Let well enough alone." McKinley didn't even to bother to repeat his "front porch" campaign of 1896, instead, he let Teddy travel 21,000 miles giving fiery speeches that rivaled Bryan's.

The WINNER was WILLIAM McKINLEY and he continues as the 25th president of the U.S. but only until September 6, 1901, when he was assassinated.

McKinley got 7,228,864 popular and and 292 electoral.

Bryan got 6,371,932 popular and 155 electoral.

(Remember - these vote totals were mainly from white men and a few blacks - women still couldn't vote.)