25^th President

    William McKinley, the 25^th president of the United States of America during the Spanish-American war, was born in Niles, Ohio on January 29, 1843. Long before he had the position as president, McKinley was a private during the Civil war and had earned the rank of a major in 1865. He also served the Congress from 1876 to 1890, elected as a governor of Ohio in 1891, and nominated for presidency in 1896.

McKinley’s Assassination

    Leon Czolgosz successfully shot President McKinley on September 6 1901, the day after his 1^st attempt. While McKinley was at the greeting line inside the Temple of Music, Leon fired two shots into the president. Leon was later sentenced to death with an electric chair. The president died eight days later died because of the wounds the bullet left him.

President Showed Compassion

    After Leon Czolgosz shot the 25^th President of the United States, William McKinley was heard to said “Go easy on him boys” while he was bleeding unto the ground. He showed compassion for the one who shot him even though he was bleeding to death.

The First Lady

    Ida Saxton McKinley, President McKinley’s first lady, hated the color Yellow.  During the spring in the Whitehouse, there were a lot of flowers but none of them had a color Yellow.

McKinley’s Parrot

    President William McKinley had a pet, a Yellow-headed Mexican parrot named “Washington Post”. The parrot has said to be able to whistle “Yankee Doodle”.

Treaty of Paris

    After its defeat in the Spanish-American war in 1898, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States under the Treaty of Peace in Paris, France. America gave $20,000,000 to Spain as a price for the Philippines. The Treaty of Paris was signed by both American and Spanish representatives on December 10, 1898.

Last Words

Before McKinley’s death, he said his last words “Good-bye-good bye, all. It’s God’s way. His will, not ours, be done. Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.”

The Battle at Manila Bay

    On May 1, 1898, the America’s Asiatic Squadron has destroyed the Spanish Naval fleet at the Manila Bay, Philippines. This was the first major battle of the Spanish-American war. The United States have taken the victory on this war ending the colonial rule of the Spaniards. It resulted to the acquisitions of the Spanish colonies by America in the Asia-Pacific.

 Here are some of the memorials the citizens of United States have given to their martyr former President:

• The National McKinley Birthplace Memorial – built in 1917 and located at Niles, Ohio. The Museum is operated by National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association. This museum features memorabilia from the Civil and Spanish-American Wars and some objects that was used by the former president.
• 500 Dollar Bill – The portrait of President McKinley’s face can be seen at the $500 bill. It was one of the memorials given to the former president.
• The William McKinley Memorial Monument – dedicated on September 14, 1906, the fifth death anniversary of former President William McKinley. It is located at the front of the Ohio State Capitol Building. It was said that the monument stands at the site where former Governor McKinley paused every morning to wave to his wife before going to the state capitol.
• Mount McKinley – Named after the 25^th president of America, also known as Denali which means “The Great One” or “The High One”. With a height of 20,320 feet (6,194 meters), it is the highest peak in North America located near the center of Alaska Range.