Discover the Unexpected: Top 6 Fun Facts About President William McKinley

1. Choo-choo Campaigner

Choo-choo-choose me: William McKinley, the presidential Energizer Bunny of 1896, chugged his way across 12,000 miles of railroad tracks, delivering over 400 speeches to a whopping two million captive souls. Steaming ahead through up to 23 speech stops in a single day, McKinley's relentless locomotive campaign not only fueled the stoke on his economic and protective tariff stances, but also chugged up a devoted following of various political passengers.
Source => rbhayes.org

2. Tariff Traitor

In a twist straight out of a political thriller, our man William McKinley heroically stood against his own namesake tariff, only to be dealt a dramatic eviction from his seat of power: McKinley opposed a provision in the McKinley Tariff that allowed presidents to bypass Congress with executive agreements, and this valiant effort cost him his seat in the 1890 midterm elections, which saw a Congress shake-up in favor of the Democratic and Populist parties.
Source => politico.com

Did you know that former rival Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away on the same day, July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence? Discover their unique story and how their animosity transformed into an unexpected friendship. 🇺🇸❤️📝

=> Fun Facts about Presidents

3. Secret Service Origin

You know how the Secret Service is famous for having the President's back? Well, they probably should've started a little sooner: Following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901, the US Secret Service officially became responsible for protecting the president, thanks to growing concerns of political threats on home turf and abroad – not to mention, McKinley was the third president assassinated within 36 years, which certainly added to the urgency for a protective presidential detail.
Source => history.com

4. Ohio's Booty-licious Flower

Who knew Ohio was so booty-licious?: Their state flower, the red carnation, was actually popularized by none other than William McKinley, who wore it as a good luck charm on his lapel throughout his career, including his presidency, after receiving one from his political opponent, Dr. Levi Lamborn, in a congressional election in 1876.
Source => ohiostatehouse.org

5. Pioneer of Political Tech

Step aside, Carrier Pigeons—the 1800s just got an upgrade: William McKinley's strategic use of cutting-edge private telephone lines and telegraphs during the 1896 Presidential Election revolutionized political campaigning, setting the stage for the meteoric rise of radio, film, television, email, and social media in modern politics.
Source => mckinleybirthplacemuseum.wordpress.com

6. Ida's Unscented Roses

Roses are red, violets are blue, but did you know Ida McKinley never got to smell those roses too? Here's the scoop: Although William McKinley didn't make it to the "White House Garden" exhibition at the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum, his wife Ida McKinley was actually quite the fan of roses grown in greenhouses that sadly disappeared from the White House during her husband's time as POTUS.
Source => cantonrep.com