When he received the cable from Admiral George Dewey reporting the capture of Manila, President William McKinley had to look up the location of the Philippines on a globe. 'I could not have told where those damned islands were within 2,000 miles,' he confessed later.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- McKinley admits ignorance of Philippine geography despite making decisions affecting them.
- In plain terms
- He did not know where the Philippines were when he took action.
- What can you take from it?
- Leaders can make major decisions without basic geographic knowledge.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How informed should leaders be?
- What are the costs of ignorance?
Another view
It highlights a gap between power and informed understanding.
More from William McKinley
Expositions are the timekeepers of progress.
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