McKinley was president during the Spanish – American War of 1898 , in which the U.S. victory was quick and decisive . As part of the peace settlement , Spain turned over to the United States its overseas colonies of Puerto Rico , Guam , and the Philippines . With the nation prosperous , McKinley defeated Bryan again in the 1900 presidential election . President McKinley was assassinated by Leon Czolgosz in September 1901 , and was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt
President McKinley was assassinated
Assassination of William McKinley
McKinley Birthplace Memorial gold dollar