Speeches and Addresses of William McKinley.

MCKINLEY, William; Elihu Root.

Item Number: 21089

New York: Doubleday & McClure, 1900.

First edition. Octavo, presentation binding original three quarters leather. Presentation coy, inscribed on the first free end paper as president, “For Hon. Elihu Root, with sincere regards, William McKinley.” The recipient, Elihu Root served as the Secretary of War under both McKinley and Roosevelt. He moved frequently between high-level appointed government positions in Washington, D.C. and private-sector legal practice in New York City. For that reason, he is sometimes considered to be the prototype of the 20th century political “wise man,” advising presidents on a range of foreign and domestic issues. He was elected by the state legislature as a U.S. Senator from New York and served one term, 1909–1915. Alfred McCoy argues that Root was the first “foreign policy grandmaster” in American history, and that Root more than any other figure is responsible for transforming America into a world power. According to McCoy, Root devoted his time as Secretary of State and as a Senator to ensuring that the United States would have a consistent presence in world affairs, and Root helped to establish the Special Relationship between the United States and Great Britain. Root helped to ensure that powerful business interests and the intellectual elite supported an interventionist foreign policy. Root was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912 as a result of his work to bring nations together through arbitration and cooperation. A remarkable association copy.

William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1897, until his assassination in September 1901, six months into his second term. McKinley led the United States in the Spanish–American War, raised protective tariffs to promote American industry, and maintained the nation on the gold standard in a rejection of inflationary proposals.