: About Me

Republican William McKinley's victory over Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election of 1896 is considered a "realigning" election by political scientists for its influence on future elections and governance. Republicans won control of the White House and both houses of Congress as voters repudiated the administration of Democrat Grover Cleveland and blamed it for the economic depression blanketing the country. The philosophies and approaches to government each party developed during this election affected political debate for two generations. McKinley was a two-term gov...