Presidents and Their Cabinets: William McKinley
St. Patrick's day is a good day to consider how William McKinley, the descendant of Irish settlers from County Antrim went about shaping his cabinet following his election as President of the United States in 1896. McKinley was a former Congressman who was elected Governor of Ohio in 1891 and 1893. He gave hundreds of speeches in support of Republican candidates across the country during the 1894 mid-term elections, all the while quietly building support for his own presidential bid two years later. It is said that when his rivals for the nomination, Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine, and Senator William Bland Allison of Iowa sent supporters outside their states to organize support for their candidacies, they found that McKinley's advance team had beaten them to the punch.
When the 1896 Republican National Convention began in St. Louis in June, McKinley had put together the support of a majority of delegates and he won the nomination on the first ballot. His party's endorsement of the gold standard caused some western delegates to walk out of the convention, but when compared with the Democrats, Republican division on the issue was minor. Democratic President Grover Cleveland firmly supported the gold standard. Those who wanted currency backed by silver took control of the 1896 Democratic National Convention and chose William Jennings Bryan as their candidate for president. Although he was a gifted orator who excited the crowds he spoke to, Bryan's financial radicalism scared bankers, who heavily financed McKinley's campaign. The Republican Party printed and distributed 200 million pamphlets and sent hundreds of speakers out across the nation to make stump speeches on McKinley's behalf. On November 3, 1896, McKinley won the presidency, winning the Electoral College vote 271 to 176, and receiving 7,102,246 popular votes to 6,502,925 for Bryan.
McKinley's first presidential inauguration was held on March 4, 1897, in front of the Original Senate Wing, at the U.S. Capitol. Chief Justice Melville Fuller administered the oath of office. It was the first inaugural ceremony recorded by a motion picture camera.
In selecting his cabinet, McKinley's most controversial appointment was that of John Sherman as Secretary of State. Sherman was not McKinley's first choice for the position. He first offered the job to Senator William Allison, one of his rivals for the Republican nomination. Allison turned down the job, believing he could accomplish more in the Senate. Allison had previously turned down two offers to become Secretary of the Treasury, once by President Chester Alan Arthur, and once by President Benjamin Harrison.
McKinley then offered the job to Ohio Senator John Sherman, and Sherman accepted. One of the reasons he picked Sherman was to create a vacancy in the Senate from Ohio so that his campaign manager Mark Hanna, could become a Senator. Hanna had turned down a Cabinet position as Postmaster General. Sherman had once served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Rutherford B. Hayes. The only think that would budge him from his Senate seat was the State position, the leading Cabinet post. Many questioned the appointment, concerned that Sherman's mental faculties were declining. McKinley did not believe this to be the case. But it later became apparent to those who worked under him that Sherman was not as sharp as he had once been. His assistant secretary, McKinley's good friend from Canton Ohio, William R. Day, confirmed this to be the case, and when Sherman resigned in 1898 for health reasons, Day succeeded him. Later that year, Day was succeeded by John Hay, a veteran diplomat who had served as Assistant Secretary of State in the Hayes Administration and who had once been one of Abraham Lincoln's personal secretaries.
Maine Congressman Nelson Dingley Jr. was McKinley's first choice for Secretary of the Treasury. Once again McKinley did not get his first choice, as Dingley declined the offer, preferring to remain as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Charles Dawes, who had been in charge of the McKinley campaign's Chicago office, was also considered for the Treasury post but was seen as too young for the job. Instead Dawes became Comptroller of the Currency in 1898. McKinley appointed Lyman J. Gage, president of the First National Bank of Chicago and a Gold Democrat, to become Secretary of the Treasury. As Secretary of the Treasury, Gage was influential in securing passage of the Gold Standard Act of March 14, 1900, which reestablished a currency backed solely by gold.
McKinley got his first choice as Secretary of the Navy when former Massachusetts Congressman John Davis Long, an old friend from the House, accepted the post. He appointed Theodore Roosevelt, head of the New York City Police Commission and a former state assemblyman as assistant secretary. McKinley was reluctant to hire Roosevelt at the time, stating to one of Roosevelt's supporters, "I want peace and I am told that your friend Theodore is always getting into rows with everybody." But Roosevelt had campaigned vigorously for McKinley during the election and got the job.
As Secretary of War, McKinley picked Russell A. Alger, a general and former Michigan governor. Alger proved to be a disappointment to McKinley when war with Spain began. He was criticized for the inadequate preparation and inefficient operation of the department during the war, especially for his appointment of William R. Shafter as leader of the Cuban expedition. Alger resigned at McKinley's request, August 1, 1899. He was succeeded by Elihu Root of New York.
McKinley chose California Congressman Joseph McKenna as his Attorney-General. McKenna served in that capacity until 1898, when he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to succeed Justice Stephen J. Field.
After Mark Hanna turned down the job of Postmaster General, McKinley gave the job to James Alber Gary, a man who once ran as the Republican candidate for Maryland Governor in 1879. He chose Cornelius Newton Bliss of Massachusetts as Secretary of the Interior. Bliss was a supporter of protective tariffs, and was chairman of the Republican state committee in 1887 and 1888, and treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1892 to 1904. He turned down McKinley's offer of becoming United States Secretary of the Treasury, but agreed to accept the post as Secretary of the Interior.
When McKinley appointed James Wilson as Secretary of Agriculture, little did he know that Wilson would hold the job for sixteen years under three presidents (McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft) from 1897 to 1913. He holds the record as the longest-serving United States Cabinet member.
Vice President Garret Hobart was not invited to Cabinet meetings, but he served as a valuable adviser both to McKinley. Hobart leased a home close to the White House and he and his wife became good friends with the McKinleys. His wife, Jennie Tuttle Hobart, sometimes filled in as White House hostess when Ida McKinley was ill. Hobart died of heart disease in November 1899. No constitutional provision existed for filling an mid-term vacancy in the vice presidency prior to ratification of the Twenty-fifth Amendment in 1967, so the office was left vacant for the balance of his term. He was succeeded as vice president by Theodore Roosevelt in March 1901.
For most of McKinley's time in office, George B. Cortelyou served as the president's personal secretary. Cortelyou acted as the de facto White House Press Secretary and chief of staff. Cortelyou was with McKinley when the president was shot on September 5, 1901, he told Courtelyou to be careful in how he broke the news to Mrs. McKinley. As McKinley collapsed, he was caught and supported by his aides, one of whom was Cortelyou. McKinley whispered to Courtelyou, "My wife, be careful Cortelyou, how you tell her. Oh, be careful."
When the 1896 Republican National Convention began in St. Louis in June, McKinley had put together the support of a majority of delegates and he won the nomination on the first ballot. His party's endorsement of the gold standard caused some western delegates to walk out of the convention, but when compared with the Democrats, Republican division on the issue was minor. Democratic President Grover Cleveland firmly supported the gold standard. Those who wanted currency backed by silver took control of the 1896 Democratic National Convention and chose William Jennings Bryan as their candidate for president. Although he was a gifted orator who excited the crowds he spoke to, Bryan's financial radicalism scared bankers, who heavily financed McKinley's campaign. The Republican Party printed and distributed 200 million pamphlets and sent hundreds of speakers out across the nation to make stump speeches on McKinley's behalf. On November 3, 1896, McKinley won the presidency, winning the Electoral College vote 271 to 176, and receiving 7,102,246 popular votes to 6,502,925 for Bryan.
McKinley's first presidential inauguration was held on March 4, 1897, in front of the Original Senate Wing, at the U.S. Capitol. Chief Justice Melville Fuller administered the oath of office. It was the first inaugural ceremony recorded by a motion picture camera.
In selecting his cabinet, McKinley's most controversial appointment was that of John Sherman as Secretary of State. Sherman was not McKinley's first choice for the position. He first offered the job to Senator William Allison, one of his rivals for the Republican nomination. Allison turned down the job, believing he could accomplish more in the Senate. Allison had previously turned down two offers to become Secretary of the Treasury, once by President Chester Alan Arthur, and once by President Benjamin Harrison.
McKinley then offered the job to Ohio Senator John Sherman, and Sherman accepted. One of the reasons he picked Sherman was to create a vacancy in the Senate from Ohio so that his campaign manager Mark Hanna, could become a Senator. Hanna had turned down a Cabinet position as Postmaster General. Sherman had once served as Secretary of the Treasury under President Rutherford B. Hayes. The only think that would budge him from his Senate seat was the State position, the leading Cabinet post. Many questioned the appointment, concerned that Sherman's mental faculties were declining. McKinley did not believe this to be the case. But it later became apparent to those who worked under him that Sherman was not as sharp as he had once been. His assistant secretary, McKinley's good friend from Canton Ohio, William R. Day, confirmed this to be the case, and when Sherman resigned in 1898 for health reasons, Day succeeded him. Later that year, Day was succeeded by John Hay, a veteran diplomat who had served as Assistant Secretary of State in the Hayes Administration and who had once been one of Abraham Lincoln's personal secretaries.
Maine Congressman Nelson Dingley Jr. was McKinley's first choice for Secretary of the Treasury. Once again McKinley did not get his first choice, as Dingley declined the offer, preferring to remain as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Charles Dawes, who had been in charge of the McKinley campaign's Chicago office, was also considered for the Treasury post but was seen as too young for the job. Instead Dawes became Comptroller of the Currency in 1898. McKinley appointed Lyman J. Gage, president of the First National Bank of Chicago and a Gold Democrat, to become Secretary of the Treasury. As Secretary of the Treasury, Gage was influential in securing passage of the Gold Standard Act of March 14, 1900, which reestablished a currency backed solely by gold.
McKinley got his first choice as Secretary of the Navy when former Massachusetts Congressman John Davis Long, an old friend from the House, accepted the post. He appointed Theodore Roosevelt, head of the New York City Police Commission and a former state assemblyman as assistant secretary. McKinley was reluctant to hire Roosevelt at the time, stating to one of Roosevelt's supporters, "I want peace and I am told that your friend Theodore is always getting into rows with everybody." But Roosevelt had campaigned vigorously for McKinley during the election and got the job.
As Secretary of War, McKinley picked Russell A. Alger, a general and former Michigan governor. Alger proved to be a disappointment to McKinley when war with Spain began. He was criticized for the inadequate preparation and inefficient operation of the department during the war, especially for his appointment of William R. Shafter as leader of the Cuban expedition. Alger resigned at McKinley's request, August 1, 1899. He was succeeded by Elihu Root of New York.
McKinley chose California Congressman Joseph McKenna as his Attorney-General. McKenna served in that capacity until 1898, when he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to succeed Justice Stephen J. Field.
After Mark Hanna turned down the job of Postmaster General, McKinley gave the job to James Alber Gary, a man who once ran as the Republican candidate for Maryland Governor in 1879. He chose Cornelius Newton Bliss of Massachusetts as Secretary of the Interior. Bliss was a supporter of protective tariffs, and was chairman of the Republican state committee in 1887 and 1888, and treasurer of the Republican National Committee from 1892 to 1904. He turned down McKinley's offer of becoming United States Secretary of the Treasury, but agreed to accept the post as Secretary of the Interior.
When McKinley appointed James Wilson as Secretary of Agriculture, little did he know that Wilson would hold the job for sixteen years under three presidents (McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft) from 1897 to 1913. He holds the record as the longest-serving United States Cabinet member.
Vice President Garret Hobart was not invited to Cabinet meetings, but he served as a valuable adviser both to McKinley. Hobart leased a home close to the White House and he and his wife became good friends with the McKinleys. His wife, Jennie Tuttle Hobart, sometimes filled in as White House hostess when Ida McKinley was ill. Hobart died of heart disease in November 1899. No constitutional provision existed for filling an mid-term vacancy in the vice presidency prior to ratification of the Twenty-fifth Amendment in 1967, so the office was left vacant for the balance of his term. He was succeeded as vice president by Theodore Roosevelt in March 1901.
For most of McKinley's time in office, George B. Cortelyou served as the president's personal secretary. Cortelyou acted as the de facto White House Press Secretary and chief of staff. Cortelyou was with McKinley when the president was shot on September 5, 1901, he told Courtelyou to be careful in how he broke the news to Mrs. McKinley. As McKinley collapsed, he was caught and supported by his aides, one of whom was Cortelyou. McKinley whispered to Courtelyou, "My wife, be careful Cortelyou, how you tell her. Oh, be careful."