- William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States from 1897 until his death in 1901. He led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War and previously served in the Civil War. - McKinley promoted protective tariffs and the gold standard as president. He hoped to gain Cuba's independence from Spain peacefully but ultimately led the US into the Spanish-American War in 1898 after negotiations failed. - In 1899, McKinley issued the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation to announce the US's intentions in the Philippines as coming "not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends."