McKinley, William

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Flowers: Creative Design
James L. Johnson , William J., Jr. McKinley , and M. Buddy Benz
Manufacturer: San Jacinto Publishing Company
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1585441716

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A well-researched and loving biography

William McKinley Volumes 1 & 2
Charles S. Olcott
Manufacturer: Library Reprints
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 072224293X

Customer Reviews:

A well-researched and loving biography.......1999-10-12

Those interested in the life of William McKinley must read this book. Olcott does a superb job of describing the life of McKinley. While this is hardly a critical biography it is essential reading for those who want to observe McKinley as his contemporaries did.

William McKinley (The American Presidents)

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Rehabilitating His Reputation
Not a straight biography
More Philosophical Than Your Average Biography
A fresh perspective on a forgotten President
A Persuasive Argument for a Reassessment of McKinley

William McKinley (The American Presidents)
Kevin Phillips , and Arthur M. Schlesinger
Manufacturer: Times Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805069534

Book Description

By any serious measurement, bestselling historian Kevin Phillips argues, William McKinley was a major American president. It was during his administration that the United States made its diplomatic and military debut as a world power. McKinley was one of eight presidents who, either in the White House or on the battlefield, stood as principals in successful wars, and he was among the six or seven to take office in what became recognized as a major realignment of the U.S. party system. Phillips, author of Wealth and Democracy and The Cousins' War, has long been fascinated with McKinley in the context of how the GOP began each of its cycles of power. He argues that McKinley's lackluster ratings have been sustained not by unjust biographers but by years of criticism about his personality, indirect methodologies, middle-class demeanor, and tactical inability to inspire the American public. In this powerful and persuasive biography, Phillips musters convincing evidence that McKinley's desire to heal, renew prosperity, and reunite the country qualify him for promotion into the ranks of the chief executives.

Customer Reviews:

Rehabilitating His Reputation.......2007-07-02

Kevin Phillips has been a political and economic commentator for more than 30 years, and written many books. William McKinley was elected to two terms and avoided any major scandals. America became a world power in his terms. McKinley was the best of the seven Ohio-born presidents. McKinley's reputation declined after 1932 with the changes in tariffs, the gold standard, and the power of corporations. Phillips lists six beliefs about McKinley that he calls "calumnies" (p.4). McKinley's inscrutability, avoidance of written commitments, and oratorical style shows "great political skill" says Phillips (p.5). McKinley was a progressive Republican (p.6) and deserves a better reputation. McKinley's children died young, his wife developed epilepsy (p.25). [This book lacks a map of Ohio in McKinley's times.]

Chapter 1 tells about Ohio and William McKinley. After the Civil War McKinley became a lawyer and entered politics. Chapter 2 describes a Modern McKinley. He was sold "like soap" in 1896 (p.30). Victrola records passed on speeches. He was the first president to visit California. The first permanent national labor union (printers) and the AFL started in Ohio, so did the United Mine Workers (p.32). McKinley defended striking coal miners in 1876. Tariffs kept American wages high (p.37). McKinley refused to profit from his political policies (p.39). The tariff questions of revenue and protection were recurring political issues (p.43). Then came the issue of silver currency (pp.51-52). Phillips explains the interests behind the conflicts.

McKinley was popular with the party rank and file, and was nominated on the first ballot. The many recessions affected voting for Congress (p.64). Phillips doesn't mention the reason for Bryan's many campaign stops (p.75). It was to talk directly to the voters. Major northern cities backed McKinley (p.77). There were similarities between Bryan and McKinley (p.83). McKinley's term saw America become a world power (p.87). [This seems a little premature.] There was an entente with Britain. Expansionism was an American tradition (pp.88-89). The naval victories at Manila Bay and Santiago Cuba helped McKinley's popularity (p.96). It was a short and successful war. The Platt Amendment kept Germany out of Cuba (p.105). The annexation of Hawaii was to keep Japan out (p.106). Fear of Germany affected Britain's politics. McKinley's plans for tariff reciprocity died with him (p.123). McKinley intended to recommend an income tax (p.124). McKinley was friendly with labor (p.125). McKinley's cabinet continued with Theodore Roosevelt (p.127). McKinley had introduced Granger resolutions (p.128). Roosevelt enacted the Elkins Act and the Hepburn Act. There were threats to nationalize the coal mines and steel industry (p,129). McKinley enacted an arbitration system in Ohio. McKinley also began the naval increase (p.132).

Chapter 6 concludes the reconsideration. Senators were chosen by state legislatures and were against progressive legislation (p.135). McKinley's assassination prevented him from achieving his political objectives (p.136). McKinley sought affection and popularity, but this was mistaken for weakness (p.138). McKinley's strength was shown by his running the State Department and the War Department (p.139). [Or did he put men there who he could override?] Those who knew him admired him (p.140). McKinley's thinking was formed by the Radical Republicans (p.141). Politics changed with the theories of Herbert Spencer (p.142). Phillips compares McKinley to Lincoln or FDR (pp.156-157), but admits McKinley was a "near great". This short chapter explains why. [McKinley's portrait was on the $500 bill, I think it should be re-issued.]

Not a straight biography.......2007-04-02

I have read 5 or 6 volumes from the American Presidents series, and this one is entirely different in approach. It is not a straight chronologocal biography like the other volumes in the series, but a political analysis of McKinley and his administration.

More Philosophical Than Your Average Biography.......2006-11-27

I am not the first reviewer to point out that this book deals more with political philosophy rather than being a straight biography. With this being the first American Presidents series I've read, I hoped this was the norm. I finished the book not thinking as much that I know about McKinley, but rather that I actually knew McKinley.

In watching PBS's 2000 series on the American President, McKinley's segment moved him up from nowhere to be my favorite president, surpassing Taft. This book confirmed it. A lot of other biographies seemed more negative. Phillips helped me appreciate McKinley even more.

As a Christian, I found the account of the election between McKinley and William Jennings Bryan very interesting, especially how one of the two Christians (Bryan) appealed to their base, while the other was more ecumenical (McKinley), something I don't like in theology but think is the best way politically. I also found it interesting how Phillips exploded the normal conception that McKinley caved in to New York boss Tom Platt to select Teddy Roosevelt as Vice President.

From reading this and from seeing other reviews, I would be hesitant to read more of Phillips; this book is short for him, and as other reviewers mentioned, his writing may weary one's interest. However, I highly recommend this book. It does not help one understand the times as does Ken Ackerman's "Dark Horse", but it does help one understand McKinley.

One final comment. In looking at Phillip's Bibliography, my hunch is that he is critical of Reagan and the current President (George Bush, for those who read this review in 2009 or later). However, I see parallels that Phillips did not deal with between these two more recent presidents and McKinley. All tend to be underestimated, and thought to be dumber than they really are.

A fresh perspective on a forgotten President.......2006-11-12

Phillips presents McKinley: A strong personality, ambitious - yet underrated and often overlooked. This book focuses on the cultural and political world in which McKinley rose to prominence and won the presidency. In doing so, Phillips makes a compelling argument that McKinley has not been given a fair evaluation by historians.

If the late 1800's and early 1900's is a period of history less familiar to you, then this book will leave you wanting. I think this book assumes some familiarity with the period and is designed to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the important figures of that fascinating time.

Overall, I felt the purchase was well worth the money and the time spent reading the book - both of which are relatively small.

A Persuasive Argument for a Reassessment of McKinley.......2005-12-29

The crux of Kevin Phillips' argument for elevating McKinley's legacy to the second tier of US Presidents is that McKinley was the architect of three major realignments. The first was in creating an enduring Republican populism, the second was in domestic economic reform, and the third was in America's role globally. Phillips explains that Teddy Roosevelt gets credit for much that is, upon objective hindsight, more appropriately due to McKinley. The prime examples of this are the Panama Canal, and trust-busting, which projects were set in motion well before TR's name became irrevocably integrated with them. If you accept that the McKinley cabinet which TR kept intact throughout his first term essentially carried out McKinley's policies, then TR's first term was essentially McKinley's second. Even the growth of the navy, for which TR gets so much credit, was possible only with the running start provided by McKinley. In point of fact, the case that Phillips makes would justify elevating McKinley to the first tier of US Presidents, but since some of that assessment rests on extrapolation, Phillips contents himself with a pitch for the second tier. In the process we learn a great deal about William Jennings Bryan, the gold standard and bimetalism, the economics of tarrifs, women's sufferage, the emerging political role of blacks, and the emerging essence of Republicanism. We see McKinley as a pensive and self-effacing builder of consensus, driving his brand of Midwestern populism with canny political acumen. So why is McKinley so misunderstood? Phillips makes the case that it is his modesty, his generosity, his willingness to compromise, and his focus on concrete outcomes rather than on political grandstanding, and particularly his fundamental desire to be liked which has been interpreted as weakness. Mr. Phillips writing is scholarly, and is supported by extensive footnotes and bibliography. He is himself an under-appreciated historian, whose earlier books, The Cousins' Wars, Wealth and Democracy, and The Emerging Republican Majority deserve more visibility. I unequivocably endorse this book, and I second Mr. Phillips' motion for a taller pedestal for William McKinley.

A History of Psychology in Autobiography, Vol. 9

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A History of Psychology in Autobiography, Vol. 9

Manufacturer: American Psychological Association (APA)
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Binding: Hardcover

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The Castle in the Forest: A Novel

ASIN: 1591477964

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An exceptional novel
Major bore
Hearst's mighty pen trumps Roosevelt's big stick
Fun and informative.
The art of historical fiction

Empire: A Novel
Gore Vidal
Manufacturer: Vintage
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Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

There are two epic struggles in Empire, the fourth of Gore Vidal's fictional meditations on the history of the United States. First, there is the historical conflict between Theodore Roosevelt--the war hero vaulted by circumstances into the Oval Office at a time when America is about to become a global power--and newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. Then there's the battle between the fictional Caroline Sanford (the great-granddaughter of Aaron Burr) and her half-brother Blaise over their late father's estate. Caroline, cut off from the money until her 27th birthday, is furious that Blaise plans to invest (and probably lose) most of it in Hearst's journalistic empire, and initiates a counterstrike by putting together the money to buy her own newspaper in the nation's capital.

As always, the scenes are populated by the powerful men and women who dominated American government and society. John Hay and Henry Adams are particularly prominent here, along with Hearst and Roosevelt. But there are also appearances by even more diverse figures, such as novelist Henry James and populist leader William Jennings Bryan.

Book Description

"Mr. Vidal demonstrates a political imagination and insider's sagacity equaled by no other practicing fiction writer I can think of. And like the earlier novels in his historical cycle, Empire is a wonderfully vivid documentary drama." —The New York Times Book Review

In this extraordinarily powerful epic Gore Vidal recreates America's Gilded Age—a period of promise and possibility, of empire-building and fierce political rivalries. In a vivid and beathtaking work of fiction, where the fortunes of a sister and brother intertwine with the fates of the generation, their country, and some of the greatest names of their day, including President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, William and Henry James, the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Whitneys, Gore Vidal sweeps us from the nineteenth century into the twentieth, from the salvaged republic of Lincoln to a nation boldly reaching for the world.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

An exceptional novel .......2006-08-29

This historical novel takes place roughly between the years 1898 and 1906. The novel is seen through the eyes of three characters: one who actually existed, William McKinnley's and Theodore Roosevelt's Secretary of State John Hay; and the other two are purely fictious, the aristocratic half-siblings Caroline and Blaise Sanford. Vidal uses his immense knowledge of the intricacies of all the political controversies, large and small of the period, and personal conflicts among the elite Americans described here.

Those elite Americans who make frequent appearances in this book include Henry Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Randolph Hearst. However, many of the other prominent characters of the period also make appearances: Mark Hanna, Henry James, William Jennings Bryan, William McKinley, etc. Vidal portrays James, one of his favorite novelists, in a funny way in that James speaks in that long winded wordy way that he wrote most of his novels.

Blaise is a chief lieutenant of Hearst before he strikes out on his own. For most of the novel he is in legal battle with Caroline over the disbursement of their late father's estate. Caroline herself can probably be said to be the main character of this book. She manages to make a modest success as the publisher of the Washington Tribune. However, she gets herself into trouble when she starts an affair with a disconcertingly good looking married freshman congressman named James Burden Day. This affair starts when Caroline is 25 and is her first sexual experience.

The part of the book describing the first sexual encounter between Caroline and the Congressman is probably the worst written part of the book. We see Jim and Caroline at a party in the midst of other aristocrats; then they are talking; then Vidal through the thoughts of Caroline, heaves tedious lengthy metaphors about food and Greek gods at the reader in the midst of which Jim's hand is sneaking towards Caroline's [...]; then we have Jim asking why, if Caroline is a virgin, there is no blood coming out of her frontal private area. Then we have the news that Jim pays a visit to Caroline's home every Sunday for a session in Caroline's bath tub and bed.

Vidal has the tendency to put his own intelligent observations and metaphors about certain characters into the minds of his characters, which makes the latter seem not always 100 percent plausible. When I was reading the book I thought the dialogue between the characters was sometimes a bit wooden but then I when I finished the book I thought maybe it was plausible enough. One or two of the scenes of lofty philosophical conversation between Caroline and Henry Adams, in the latter intellectual giant's drawing room, seemed somewhat implausible and maybe a little pointless for the novel's purpose.

Vidal's fiction is always a pleasure to read. In this book, he demonstrates his usual genius mastery in describing the buildings, people, streets and other details in the historical epoch in which the novel takes place. His prose is always clear and graceful, sometimes really extraordinarily so. The way he portrays American politics at the turn of the Century is really quite effective. The American people were restless under the extreme corruption and brutality of the big businessmen who controlled politics. Vidal effectively shows the sordidness of all this towards the end of the novel, with the conflict between William Randolph Hearst and Theodore Roosevelt. Hearst, who is excluded from the drawing rooms of most aristocrats because of his uncouth journalistic practices, finds solace in posing as a champion of ordinary people, a reformer and progressive. Of course, what he really wants is political power and he is willing to make alliances with anybody, including the bosses of New York's Tammany Hall, to whom he is theoretically in opposition. Theodore Roosevelt similarly poses as a Progressive, but his substantive gestures towards seriously regulating corporate power and political corruption are not much. The climax comes when Roosevelt gets wind that Hearst has obtained copies of numerous letters from the man who disperses bribes for John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil to politicians, to those politicians. A letter from this man to Theodore Roosevelt is in this file but its meaning is unclear. Hearst wants to print these letters in his newspapers at politically opportune times during his own quest for political offices such as New York governor and President. The last scene in the novel is a meeting between WRH and TR at the White House where each man gives to the other, very unflattering opinions about the other. Vidal says at the end of the novel that WRH and TR really did have a meeting at the White House relating to Standard Oil corruption and Roosevelt's link to it, but no one one really knows for sure what was said in it. Nonetheless, the dialogue Vidal places in the mouths of the men, are accurate renditions of what they really thought, he explains.

Major bore.......2006-07-05

I realize that I'm supposed to think "Empire" is brilliant, because it's Gore Vidal, but it is a major bore. Nothing actually happens; its just 400+ pages of dialogue. A well-written conventional history of the period would be more enjoyable and more informative. This is a total snooze-fest.

Hearst's mighty pen trumps Roosevelt's big stick.......2006-05-15

Although Vidal provides a shotgun approach to character development, Empire is best viewed in the perspective of two primary conflicts; one among fictional characters (Caroline and Blaise Sanford) and the other among two historical players (Theodore Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst). Only through fictional characters could Vidal create narrators capable of such convoluted and impossibly rich experiences that they could come into critical conversations with so many historical characters. Caroline and Blaise are half-siblings who rival for the same fortune and unravel a dark secret regarding their respective dead mothers.

McKinley and Roosevelt both have imperialistic aims with racist purpose. Both want America to fill the power vacuum created by the decline of the British Empire; both feel it is the duty of the civilized Americans to be stewards for the primitive races of the Asian, Caribbean and Pacific Islands. To the regnant aristocracy, war is the natural state of man. Hearst, McKinley and Roosevelt are portrayed as not only making war inevitable, but also desirable. The respectable and intellectual few, best exemplified by John Hay and the Five Hearts, are more conscientious, but remain low key compared to the dashing and charismatic politicians bent on imperialism and self-promotion.

Hearst is an antihero similar to Satan in Milton's "Paradise Lost." Clearly, Hearst is a manipulative megalomaniac, but he is much more interesting character than the prudent McKinley or the bellicose Teddy Roosevelt. Although the Hearst who instigated the Spanish-American war of 1898 and incited the assassination of McKinley connotes horror and repulsion, Vidal clearly enjoys Hearst's vapidity and ingenuity. Hearst is a cad to the American nobles, but he is able to history on his own terms and to suit his own purposes. Using inaccurate and biased propaganda, Hearst is flamboyant and irresponsible, exploiting the indifferent American masses while inventing heroes to lead them. To Vidal, Hearst created public opinion, while Roosevelt simply rode public opinion. Therefore, Hearst is the inventor of the modern world while Roosevelt simply followed his lead.

Fun and informative........2005-01-24

Empire is fun to read, and informative. I trust Vidal's history, and in fact, his scrupulousness may be reflected in the book's major fault. The historical characters are very static: it seems Vidal does not wish to use his imagination to embroider on the actual historical record, so that by the end of the book I began to grow tired of Hays and Adams and even Theodore Roosevelt (contrast to Max Byrd's "Jackson"). Of the two prominent fictional characters, Carolyn Sanford, the more important, is engaging, interesting and well developed. The writing is witty, often droll. No citizen, after reading this novel, will long for the "good old days" of politics.

The art of historical fiction.......2003-12-01

Faced with a long and dreary winter? 'Empire' may be just the antidote. Gore Vidal's 1987 epic makes for educational, if sometimes tedious, fireside reading. 'Empire' is a tough one to plow through in one sitting, let alone one month, but in the end it rewards the reader with an informative narration of turn-of-the-century America. The fourth in Vidal's five-part series, 'Empire' features both historical and fictitious characters, who share the plot in equal dollops throughout the novel. A cursory knowledge of early 20th-century American history -- McKinley, Roosevelt, Hay, etc. -- enhances the reading experience. But even without this knowledge, the book is well worth the read. The closing dialogue alone justifies the effort.

Life Histories and Psychobiography: Explorations in Theory and Method

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Life Histories and Psychobiography: Explorations in Theory and Method
William McKinley Runyan
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

"The one essential book in the field" In this pathbreaking study, Runyan reviews and responds to major criticism of psychobiography and of the case study method, and suggests criteria for evaluating and improving in-depth studies of individual lives. Theoretical points are vividly illustrated iwth examples from the lvies of (among others) Vincent Van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, Shakespeare, Malcolm X, Woodrow Wilson, Virginia Woolf, and several of Freud's classic case studies. "The most informative, clear, objective, and comprehensive book written on this topic to date. It is both the ideal text for a graduate course in psycho-history and the one essential book in the field which every library should have."--The Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William Mckinley, and Me Elizabeth

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Treasure Trove

Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William Mckinley, and Me Elizabeth
E. L. Konigsburg
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FFLZX6

Customer Reviews:

Treasure Trove.......2007-01-15

My mother bought me this book for my 8th Christmas and it remains a favorite to this day. In it I found a sympathetic character in Elizabeth, the protagonist of this story. I could well sympathize with her inability to make friends easily (I had that same challenge) and agonizing over her small stature. I had the opposite problem -- I always thought I was abnormally tall until I reached my maximum height at 12 and am NOT tall for any adult!

It was an interesting coming together of these two loners, Elizabeth and Jennifer. I think the whole "witchcraft" thing was to a large extent, childhood wishful thinking and playacting and the natural wish to distinguish oneself among one's peers. I loved this book and delighted in the antics of the two girls.

Elizabeth's nemesis, the phony, duplicitous Cynthia is easily recognizable. I had to endure my share of "Cynthias" growing up and I can remember thinking how laughably clueless adults were to the phony, smarmy charm such creeps like Cynthia oozed. I thought it was mean of Elizabeth's mother to make her attend Cynthia's birthday party and to constantly sing Cynthia's praises to her. People who praise Other People's Children to their own make me tired. That certainly did not help Elizabeth's esteem. I could relate to that because my mother used to sing the praises of Other People's Children to me. I can remember telling her time and again, "She's/They're just pretending to be nice because YOU'RE here. I can't just walk up to kids and make friends." It was only after I had become an adult myself that I realized that my mother and her peers were not as susceptible to the smarmy Cynthias as I had been led to believe. It was in recent years that she has told me that she knew all along what sneaky, miserable little wretches those "Cynthias" were and that she was "friendly to them in the hopes they'd be nicer to me" whether she was present or not. How wonderful it would have been to have told me that in the first place! I would have known she was an ally then instead of easily misled by Other People's Children! This book is an eye opener for all ages.

I still laugh uproariously over the way Elizabeth ate a raw onion per Jennifer's direction for a week. Her bizarre eating habits paid off -- I loved it when her onion breath scared nasty Cynthia who ran off the stage during a school play. I also loved the way she fixed Cynthia's wagon at Cynthia's birthday party by challenging her phony charm. Each time Cynthia oohed and aahed over a gift and asked who it was from, Elizabeth would call out the name of the giver, thus spoiling Cynthia's fun. I cheered when Elizabeth stepped on nasty Cynthia's foot when the latter stuck her tongue out at her when she left the party. I remember at 8 thinking, "Elizabeth, you don't need Cynthia. One of these days she'll get it." Many years later, I wanted to say, "Just remember, there is life after elementary/middle school. Creeps like Cynthia may have won a battle or two, but they won't win the war. I hope you see Cynthia fall flat on her phony face."

It is a delightful treasure trove of memories and a book well worth reading at any age. I still love it and I have my original hard back copy that I got when I was eight.

Ideal companion book to MY SECRET BULLY, which is the flip side of this book. Instead of condoning the bullying behavior in aggressive girls, Katie's mother defends her daughter and helps empower her by giving strategies on how to deal with the malicious, destructive behavior of bullying girls.

Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination: Memorial Edition

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Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination: Memorial Edition
Marshall Everett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BVNU1O

President McKinley, War and Empire: Volume 1: President McKinley and the Coming of War, 1898 (American Presidents Series)

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An inconsistency needs to be pointed out

President McKinley, War and Empire: Volume 1: President McKinley and the Coming of War, 1898 (American Presidents Series)
Richard Hamilton
Manufacturer: Transaction Publishers
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ASIN: 0765803291

Customer Reviews:

An inconsistency needs to be pointed out.......2006-09-20

Rather than review this text in it's entirety, I will focus on a claim made by the author, in the inside front cover no less, and show how it conflicts with some documentation provided later in the text.

In the inside front cover, the author accuses William Jennings Bryan of being "an inflationist." Moreover, he groups Bryan (albeit correctly) with the "people" who are at odds with "Wall Street" who include most notably "conservatives" such as banking magnate J. P. Morgan.

Now, is it correct to label Bryan as an "inflationist?" The argument that Bryan was an "inflationist" is not unique to this book, and this argument essentially operates as follows: Bryan wanted to remove the gold backing from US currency in exchange for a silver backing. This somehow would "inflate prices" for farm goods which would benefit farmers (hence the Bryan's popularity among farmers).

Without getting into how the prices are supposed to "inflate" let me first point out that it is incorrect to use the verb "inflate" in connection with prices. Prices do not inflate. The currency itself; that is--money can only inflate. Meaning, that the act of "inflating" money means an entity, governmental or private is simply creating money. This means simply printing it, or in todays digital age, going into your computerized banking account and simply increasing your balance, without having made any deposit.

Now earlier, I wrote Bryan wanted to change the "backing" of US currency from gold to silver. What does that mean? It is simple: a "backing" is a standard. When currency is backed by gold or silver or some other commodity with "intrinsic" value, it means that the government cannot simply print as many dollars as it wants; it can only print as many as it can without failing to redeem the dollar-holders with the aforementioned commodity. That is, in the old days, you could go to the bank, and trade in your dollars for gold; you had that right. Try doing that nowadays. So in the past the government could not print too many dollars, otherwise it would not have enough gold to give back to the money-holders, should all of them want to get rid of their dollars.

Now keep in mind that although Bryan, the "radical" (as the author labels him) wanted to change the backing from gold to silver, at least he wanted to retain a backing.

Now on the other hand, let's take a look at the "conservative Wall Street banker" J. P. Morgan. `On p. 56 of the text, the author writes: "[McKinley supporter Myron] Herrick reports that Mr. Morgan 'was rather violent in expressing his views. The monetary repudiation which the adoption of the "free silver" standard involved was nauseating to him.... Any Republican who comes out now...for either gold or silver will not get the nomination. Let McKinley stay where he is.... once he is nominated we can take care of gold in the platform.'"

What can we glean from Morgan's statements concerning gold or silver? Well, it should be obvious from anyone who is acquainted with the man that he did not support *any* backing to the US currency be it gold silver or whatever. This is clearly evident from Morgan's hand in the "1913 revolution" which orchestrated the establishment of the banking cartel known as the "Federal Reserve." The Federal Reserve is not federal, it is a private consortium of banks which has the power to "inflate" or "deflate" the US monetary supply. That means that the banks can create money at whim. And Congress has given the Federal Reserve that power, although unconstitutionally, since the US Constitution requires that Congress (and only Congress) coin money and regulate it's value.

This is where what is commonly referred to as "inflation" comes from. It isn't some random force of nature. Rising prices are the result of there being no backing on our paper currency, enabling the Fed banking cartel to print as much money as it likes--the more money they print, the more worthless it becomes. But what do the private shareholders of the Fed banking cartel and politicians in DC stand to benefit from the power to simply print money at their leisure? Well, if you can't figure it out on your own then perhaps you should not bother purchasing this book--"Curious George" or the "Cat in the Hat" is more appropriate for you.

So in conclusion we see that it is in fact Mr. Morgan who is the "inflationist" relative to Mr. Bryan. You lose two stars for that Mr. Hamilton.

Chosen by Fate: My Life Inside Death Row Records

Average customer rating:

Great book to read
tupac is the best ever
Read what realy goes down with Snoop and the Death row crew
What a waste of talent.

Chosen by Fate: My Life Inside Death Row Records
McKinley "Malik", Jr. Lee , and Frank B. Williams
Manufacturer: Dove Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Recording & Sound | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Suge Knight: The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Death Row Records: The Story of Marion 'Suge' Knight, a Hard Hitting Study of One Man, One Company That Changed the Course of American Music Forever

ASIN: 0787114324

Customer Reviews:

Great book to read.......1999-09-07

This book really let's you know how it was in the midst of the Death Row project. I was really amazed on the life of McKinley Malik Lee, Jr. Buy the book. You will not be disappointed . I hear he is recording great music now (gospel rap) that should be released at the beginning of the year (2000). Wouldn't it be awesome to hear somthing with him and Snoop Doggy Dogg? Platinum baby!!!!! God Bless!!!!!!

tupac is the best ever.......1999-04-19

Ok well Tupac Shakur is the best rapper that ever liver and no one will ever top him. It is a same what happened to him he was very talented and i wish he was still here. I have ever cd he ever maede and he is mostly all i listen to.. I think all the books writen about him are good as long as they say the good points about him to and how sweet lhe was.Tupac Amuru Shakur R.I.P.

Read what realy goes down with Snoop and the Death row crew.......1998-06-02

Just like Li'l Kim says first you get the money then you get the power after you get the power you get the respect. No matter what coast your from most people got respect for Snoop and his crew. Told to you by McKinley 'Malik',Jr. Lee you get the inside info about the rise of Death Row Records. This book is one of the ones that will make you want to keep reading forever. After you read tihs book you'll know more about Suge, Snoop, Dre, and how they came to be.

What a waste of talent........1998-04-04

I am a white female who is into all kinds of music and I found Snoop and 2Pac, both to be very talented people. I felt that reading this book would help me understand the lifestyles of a gangsta rapper. I am afraid all I found was a complete waste of life and talent. Death Row Records was appropriately named. All involved seemed to have encountered death at some time. It's really a shame that people these days are so quick to pick up a gun and use it without regard for human life. Hind sight is indeed 20/20. Nothing will bring Tupac or Biggie Smalls back and still the guns and drugs are out there every day, stealing away the great talents from our world. People wake up. Death isn't the answer to Life, it is only the end of an era.

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