WILLIAM McKINLEY
Brief letter from the then Governor of Ohio to an associate, telling him to write if any interesting happens on his upcoming trip; accompanied by an official invitation to a White House gathering hosted by Ida McKinley (unsigned)
Typed letter signed: "W McKinley" as Governor of Ohio, 1p, 8x10½. Columbus, Ohio, 1895 December 19. To Mr. A.E. Bateman, Black Rock, Conn. In part: "I hope that your trip South will be beneficial to your child. Should you come across anything of interest, I hope you will not fail to write me...." Accompanied by an unsigned partly engraved card, reading in full: "Mrs. McKinley/will be glad to receive/Mrs. Bateman and Friends/on Tuesday the 24th inst./between three and four o'clock P.M./1898". Also accompanied by original Executive Mansion envelope. No city or postal markings indicating it was hand-delivered. WILLIAM McKINLEY and IDA SAXTON McKINLEY were married from 1871 until his death. Mrs. McKinley had been an invalid for many years before becoming First Lady. Because she was an epileptic, she had few official receptions. Invitations to her White House receptions are scarce and this is a fine example. William McKinley (1843-1901) represented Ohio as a Republican in the U.S. Congress from 1877-1883 and 1885-1891, and he served as Governor of Ohio from 1892-1896. Elected 25th U.S. President in 1896, McKinley was reelected to a second term in 1900 with a larger plurality of votes than any other Chief Executive before him. The U.S. became a world power during his Presidency, winning a war with Spain (1898) and acquiring overseas colonies (Puerto Rico and the Philippines). On September 6, 1901, at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, President McKinley was shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist. He died on September 14, 1901, the third President to be assassinated. Lightly creased. Light type transfer touches signature. 4 typed words stained. Letter was folded, resulting in another stain mostly in blank area but touching "W" of signature. Vertical fold touches "K" in McKinley. Glue remnant on verso visible at upper left blank area. Toned. Slightly soiled. Corners slightly worn. Otherwise, letter in fine condition. Card and envelope folded through center; card toned and slightly soiled; envelope toned and soiled; envelope torn and frayed; otherwise, fine condition.