1896 Election

[Rob]

The election of 1896 is one of the most important in the nation's history. The Republican victory established the GOP as the majority party until the Great Depression, but more importantly, it was a victory for the cities and a mandate for continued industrialization.

I, of course, would have voted for McKinley. Bryan preached a disturbing blend of fundamentalism and wild-eyed populism. His economic theories were misguided at best, and his attacks on business and urban life in general smack of demogoguery.

[Rob]

Assuming we have 20/20 hindsight and this isn't one of those "if you lived during and could vote in the 1896 election..."

I should have made that clear; this is with hindsight.

Plus I was also born on his birthday

Cool.

[Rob]

Bryan. Turned out in the end that he was right about gold anyways.

Right about gold, but for the wrong reasons. He would have been a disaster as President.