Reviews for William McKinley, apostle of protectionism

The average rating for William McKinley, apostle of protectionism based on 2 reviews is 2 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-09-28 00:00:00 Lindsey Barton Statement of the obvious: This is a one topic presentation, not a full blown biography. The first 15 chapters are a historical overview of William McKinley, and his views on tariffs and protectionism, with the next 5 being a summation and in depth presentation on key arguments. The author, Quentin Skrabec, makes a good case for William McKinley as an under appreciate champion of both business and capitalism. That being said the reader has to realize that all the information being presented is one sided, he tells the reader that socialists and anarchists have been joined as one incorrectly, then portrays events (specifically unions) in a less favorable light. Having read several books about people from this period, Eugene V. Debs, Mother Jones, and John D. Rockefeller, I benefit from a more well rounded account. The most glaring misrepresentation is of George Pullman, whom the author called, “Labor friendly, but hard headed and a poor communicator” Pullman, his business practices and labor relations are completely at odds with historical fact. Again, he makes a good case for McKinley, and documents it well. A very interesting read on an infrequently mentioned president.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-10-23 00:00:00 Greg Hall A wonderful succinct history of Progressive Era focusing on how the assassination of McKinley shaped Progressivism, Rauchway treats TR more kindly than I've seen him treated in the last few years. I have a love-hate relationship with TR and tend to agree with the author on TR's domestic policies. Now, if heh adn't insisted on that Big Stick and let the Philippines alone. Outside of Jefferson I think TR was our most brilliant president. And like Jefferson he was batshit crazy, too. I knew some f the history of Leon Czolgosz, but was unaware of the Briggs study that Rauchway draws on extensively. Of real interest to me is Rauchway's analysis of TR and Leon. This is a great addition to Progressive Era, anarchist, and crime studies. And, of course, a study in the shaping of political power