Volume 16 , Issue 14

William Jennings Bryan (1860-July 26, 1925)

It was Bryan county, in Oklahoma that was named for the Populist Democrat, William Jennings Bryan. Willliam J. Bryan ran for president in three elections, garnering fewer votes each time he hid. Bryan was a powerful speaker that drew large crowds. He once spoke to an audience of 5000 when he was in Muskogee.

Bryan first ran for president was in 1896 at the age of 36 years. Back then he was the youngest presidential candidate in American history. He was invited to give a speech at the Democratic Convention that year. It was a rousing oration that swept the Democrats up in enthusiasm and gave Bryan the nomination. The vote was close in 1896, but his opponent, William McKinley, won that year.

It was in 1900, both political parties were in disarray and several splinter groups put up nominees of their own. Bryan was the nominee for two Democratic groups and one Republican. Bryan again lost to the incumbent, President William McKinley.

It was Bryan that took advantage of a new invention in his campaigns, the phonograph. A local music store offered his campaign speeches by record. Residents could purchase and take home a record to play on their Victrola.

Bryan's Progressive ideas found their way into the Oklahoma Constitution, and this great orator returned again to Oklahoma to campaign for the constitution's adoption in 1907. President Teddy Roosevelt sent William Howard Taft to the territories to campaign against it.

In 1908, Bryan ran against Taft, but lost once again. Even in 1920, Bryan was on a nominating ballot at the Democratic Convention. It was Will Rogers that joked, "The only way to Democrats were going to keep Bryan from running for president was to make him vice-president." Bryan did not get the nomination, but was tapped by Woodrow Wilson to serve as Secretary of State.

William J. Bryan served two terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska and was the United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1915). Bryan resigned because of his pacifist position on the World War.

Because of Bryan's faith in the wisdom of the common people, William Jennings Bryan was called The Great Commoner. Bryan's final great oration was at the Scopes Monkey, with William Jennings Bryan arguing for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow, a famed defense attorney, spoke for Scopes. Bryan died five days after the trial as the eight day Scopes trial took a toll on Bryan. Bryan died in his sleep.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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