William McKinley: Last Speech

William McKinley was president of the United States from 1897 to 1901, during the period of overseas expansion that grew out of the war with Spain in 1898. A popular speaker as a campaigner, McKinley wrote presidential messages and delivered addresses that proved significant in persuading Americans to adopt this expanded world role at the end of the nineteenth century. At a time when radio did not yet exist, the president had to make his case through the prose that his constituents read in their newspapers or in pamphlet form. McKinley proved quite adept at framing arguments that would convince citizens of the wisdom of the course he was proposing. On the day before he was shot by an assassin, McKinley delivered what has become known as his Last Speech in Buffalo, New York, at the Pan-American Exposition. In it, he encouraged reciprocal trade arrangements with foreign countries and emphasized the need to put aside attitudes of isolationism.