I really think that William McKinley is one of the most underrated Presidents. Not because of what he accomplished during his short tenure, but because of what it signaled and started. The Spanish-American war was (in a vacuum) a fairly minor conflict, but it was the first time the USA had waged a war against a *truly* foreign enemy.
While McKinley might have died early on in his presidency, the things he set in motion resulted in the current American Empire, and for that reason, it is him, and not Teddy Meme-sevelt, that I nominate for the title of Eternal Burger
>but it was the first time the USA had waged a war against a *truly* foreign enemy. Good to know the Mexican-American war never happened. Thanks senpai.
Isaac Russell
He was a Freemason so of course everything he set in motion was diabolical in purpose
Christopher Cox
I put * around truly for a reason. Going to war against your next door neighbor is not and should not be considered a foreign war, every country in the history of mankind has done that shit, its just the human condition
Joshua Watson
>it was the first time the USA had waged a war against a *truly* foreign enemy.
To the shores of Tripoli, nigger
Sebastian Walker
I should have elaborated in my OP, while the action against the Barbary Pirates was far from home, its scale was far smaller, in manpower, length, and international significance
Daniel Martinez
Just admit you had no idea the Mexican-American war happened, make it easier for yourself.
Nolan Diaz
That was World War II
Owen Green
Wait, so the Mexicans were too close and the Barbary Pirates were too far?
Taking action against pirates, even those somewhat aligned to a nation state, is not the same as a nation v nation war
Jacob Mitchell
Honestly this. He really was an underrated president. >last Civil War veteran elected to the presidency >first modern presidential campaign: regional strategy and national effort >opened up primaries on the local, district, and state levels >managed to beat William Jennings Bryan's rhetoric with sound policies >reached out to Jewish, Scandinavian, and Catholic immigrants, as well as Union and Confederate veterans >expanded America's power and furthered our interests
Juan Carter
Comparing the Barbary pirates to the Mexican-American War and the Philippine Insurgency is like comparing Trump's Syria strike to the Iraq War, except we ended up winning in the Philippines and modernizing the country and creating a strong ally to this day.
Brandon Miller
I maintain that the US won in Iraq, but lost the War on Terror.
It's like the opposite of Vietnam, where we lost the war but won the Cold War.
Tyler Wilson
>first modern presidential campaign: regional strategy and national effort He ran a "Front Porch Campaign" i.e. he never left his house after he was nominated until the election was over.
Jayden Martin
>the Barbary Wars were WWII
Leo Reyes
>If there are any more anti-American protests in Cuba we'll be forced to intervene >Sends a ship on a """"friendly"""" visit to provoke exactly that He was literally a sociopath
Juan Morris
>Removes one of the only secular regimes opposed to radical Islam in the region >His removal allows the Iranian backed Shia militias to gain huge influence in the country >Pissed off unemployed and militarily trained Sunnis go on to found ISIS which is destabilizing the west to this day >Winning Maybe if they didn't disband the Iraqi army this could have all been avoided
Asher Sanchez
>Going to war against your next door neighbor is not and should not be considered a foreign war,
Logan Roberts
Wrong
McKinley did everything he could to avoid war. Warhawks like Teddy, Yellow press, and financial interests combined with Spanish Imperial retardation were just too much to stop.
Gabriel Morgan
>Falling for his 4D chess He literally did everything he could to ensure Spain and America would go to war, including telling them to go and get fucked even when they accepted every single demand. Joke was on him and Teddy though seeing as there was an amendment put through about Cuba becoming independent so all they got was shitty Puerto Rico and a shit counter insurgency in the Phillipines
