Ida Saxton McKinley

Ida Saxton McKinley was the wife of William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1897 until her husband's assassination in 1901. She was a member of the Republican Party and supported her husband's Spanish-American War efforts, often hosting events at the White House with notable guests like Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain. Ida Saxton McKinley was also known for her interest in fashion, often wearing designs by Charles Frederick Worth and Jean-Philippe Worth, and her love of music, particularly the works of Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Her life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of her daughters, Katherine McKinley and Ida McKinley, and her husband's eventual assassination at the Pan-American Exposition.

● Early life and education

Ida Saxton McKinley was born on June 8, 1847, in Canton, Ohio, to James Saxton and Kate Dewalt Saxton. She grew up in a wealthy family and was educated at Brook Hall Female Seminary in Media, Pennsylvania, and later at Miss Sanford's School in New York City. Ida Saxton McKinley's family was friends with the family of Rutherford B. Hayes, and she often visited the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio. She was also acquainted with other notable figures, including James A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison, who would later become President of the United States. Ida Saxton McKinley's interests included literature, particularly the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, and art, with a fondness for the paintings of Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

● Marriage and family

Ida Saxton McKinley married William McKinley on January 25, 1871, at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio. The couple had two daughters, Katherine McKinley and Ida McKinley, but both died in childhood. Ida Saxton McKinley was devastated by the loss of her children and became increasingly dependent on her husband. The family was close to the Rockefeller family, and John D. Rockefeller often visited the McKinleys at their home in Canton, Ohio. Ida Saxton McKinley was also friends with Caroline Harrison, the wife of Benjamin Harrison, and the two often exchanged letters and visited each other at the White House and Vice President's residence.

● First Lady of

the United States As First Lady of the United States, Ida Saxton McKinley was known for her elegance and refinement. She often hosted events at the White House, including state dinners and receptions, with guests like King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Ida Saxton McKinley was also interested in philanthropy, particularly in the area of women's education, and supported organizations like the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the American Red Cross. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and often attended events at the Arlington National Cemetery and the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Ida Saxton McKinley's time as First Lady was marked by significant events, including the Spanish-American War and the annexation of Hawaii, which was supported by her husband and Theodore Roosevelt.

● Health and personal life

Ida Saxton McKinley suffered from poor health throughout her life, including epilepsy and depression. She often relied on her husband for support and comfort, and the couple was known to be deeply in love. Ida Saxton McKinley was also interested in spiritualism, particularly in the area of mediumship, and often attended séances with notable figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. She was a member of the Theosophical Society and the Society for Psychical Research, and often read the works of Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott. Ida Saxton McKinley's personal life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of her husband at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, where he was assassinated by Leon Frank Czolgosz.

● Later life and death

After her husband's assassination, Ida Saxton McKinley returned to Canton, Ohio, where she lived out the rest of her life. She died on May 26, 1907, at the age of 59, and was buried at the West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio, alongside her husband and daughters. Ida Saxton McKinley's legacy as First Lady of the United States is remembered for her elegance and refinement, as well as her support for her husband and his policies, including the Gold Standard Act and the Dingley Tariff. She is also remembered for her interest in philanthropy and women's education, and her support for organizations like the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the American Red Cross. Ida Saxton McKinley's life was marked by significant events and notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and King Edward VII, and her legacy continues to be remembered and celebrated today. Category:First Ladies of the United States