William McKinley died on this day in 1901. Much like James K. Polk, McKinley was a very important yet somewhat obscure president, largely forgotten by most people but regarded highly by modern day historians as a successful expansionist and an overall good leader. So here's the basic rundown: McKinley was a friend of big business, a nice guy (even after getting shot, he pleaded with an angry mob not to harm his assassin), and the man who got us through the Spanish-American War. But forget all that crap. The real reason I will always love William McKinley is because he was crazy enough to appoint the "damned cowboy" Theodore Roosevelt as his Vice-President, paving the way for the greatest presidency ever.
Here's a recent live performance of my McKinley song at Arlene's Grocery.