William McKinley (A Life)

On January 29, 1843
In a Niles, Ohio home was born William McKinley
He graduated from a seminary at 16
Then, student, teacher, and a postal clerk in between
He served, and became a major in the Civil War
Then, law became his calling, in '67, passed the bar

William met Ida, they wed in 1871
Then came two daughters, Kate and Ida, both died very young
In '77, he won US rep from Ohio
Then, four years as Ohio's governor, then, he'd go
For the '96 nomination for the Prez
And win with the help of his friend, Hanna's resources

William McKinley, President number 25
His focus was on helping American industry thrive

William's tariffs and Gold Standard were his policies
To help a strong government build the nation's industries
In '98, over Cuba, we went to war with Spain
We won, the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, our domain
With China, he began an Open Door Policy
To help the US position in world markets easily

In '01, William was re-elected president
He toured the country, stopping at a World's Expo event
Shots rang out, William was hit, but didn't die at the scene
'Twas not the bullets that killed him, but the onset of gangrene
William helped businesses grow domestically
He's on the $500 dollar bill, a valuable memory