William McKinley served as President from 1896 until 1901, when he was assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in New York. Signed 4 x 2.75 Executive Mansion card, signed “For Miriam Ruca [?], With every good wish, William McKinley, May 4, 1900” in black ink. In fine condition. McKinley championed the Dingley Tariff which increased tariffs on imported products. He also adopted the Currency Act of 1900 which put the nation on the Gold Standard. Foreign affairs soon came to dominate McKinley's agenda. As largely dubious press accounts informed Americans of atrocities perpetrated by Spanish colonialists on Cuban natives, McKinley was pressured to act. Despite being on record as deploring what he termed "jingo nonsense," McKinley requested from Congress, on April 11, 1899, a declaration of war on Spain. Victory was swift. McKinley soon found himself in a position to expand considerably the American empire. Along with winning Cuba, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain, McKinley oversaw the annexation of Hawaii, and the partition of the Samoan Islands with Germany. R&R COA.
