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- See his entry in the American National Biography. He was a Progressive democrat from Nebraska. He served in Congress starting in 1890; presidential candidate in 1896 ("Cross of Gold" speech and all of that), 1900, and 1908; Secretary of State for Woodrow Wilson 1913-1915 (he resigned b/c he was an ardent pacifist who objected to Wilson's handling of the war); and prosecutor in the Scopes trial. Bryan Co., Oklahoma, is named for him.
According to The Political Graveyard, " Democrat. Lawyer; U.S. Representative from Nebraska 1st District, 1891-95; candidate for President of the United States, 1896, 1900, 1908; U.S. Secretary of State, 1913-15; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1924. Presbyterian. Member, Freemasons; Knights of Pythias."
For a biography, one might see Robert Cherny, A Righteous Cause: The Life of William Jennings Bryan.
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