MARK HANNA

Hanna, managing William McKinley’s Presidential Campaign against William Jennings Bryan, outspent is opponents by a factor of ten to one. Few understood that at the time or the profound effect that money could play in national politics. Hanna was a political strategist far ahead of his time.

Hanna was returning from President William McKinley's funeral in Buffalo, NY. Hanna had been concerned even when Roosevelt was nominated Vice President. See related quotes.

In 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt became President to Hanna’s chagrin, the new president changed things and went after the must abusive trusts and large corporations.

Theodore Roosevelt had just been nominated as Vice President and the Republicans were almost certain to win the general election. The Chairman was alsays very distressed by Roosevelt. The New York conservative Republicans leaders had pushed him out of the Governorship by getting him nominated as VP as NY business leaders were fearful of TR’s business reform ideas. Hanna worried that if TR ever reached a position of power, he would alienate business from the national Republican party. When McKinley was assassinated, Hanna’s worst fears were realized. See his reaction {585078}

Hanna was returning from President William McKinley's funeral in Buffalo, NY. Hanna had been concerned even when Roosevelt was nominated Vice President. See related quotes.

Theodore Roosevelt had just been nominated as Vice President and the Republicans were almost certain to win the general election. The Chairman was alsays very distressed by Roosevelt. The New York conservative Republicans leaders had pushed him out of the Governorship by getting him nominated as VP as NY business leaders were fearful of TR’s business reform ideas. Hanna worried that if TR ever reached a position of power, he would alienate business from the national Republican party. When McKinley was assassinated, Hanna’s worst fears were realized. See his reaction {585078}

Roosevelt was preparing to suggest government regulation of large corporations and trusts. See Theodore Roosevelt {42023}

In 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt became President to Hanna’s chagrin, the new president changed things and went after the must abusive trusts and large corporations.

Hanna, managing William McKinley’s Presidential Campaign against William Jennings Bryan, outspent is opponents by a factor of ten to one. Few understood that at the time or the profound effect that money could play in national politics. Hanna was a political strategist far ahead of his time.

Most Republicans at the time were beholden to corporations and business who then demanded high tariffs and other protectionisms so they could maintain high prices and not have to compete with British and European imports. Roosevelt and a few other reform Republicans were free traders along with most Democrats. Roosevelt had so many other reforms in the fire that he decided not to take this one on at the same time and thought that the benefit would not be good enough for the nation to offset the open civil war of the Republican Party that would ensue. In the latter half of the 20th century, large American companies had opened or invested in foreign corporations and/or were manufacturing many of their products abroad. So they then advocated free trade. When they did, the Republican Party flip flopped and adopted free trade as one of its basic principles. Meanwhile, the Democrats who were free traders in the early 20th Century had become protectionists by the end of the 20th century as labor movement wanted to protect American jobs.