Ida Saxton McKinley

Ida and Pecan Icebox Cookies

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First Ladies - 1850 to 1900

Ida Saxton McKinley*

President William McKinley*

First Lady Ida and President William McKinley
First Lady - 1897 - 1901
Quote from Ida - Ida McKinley said after her husband’s assassination, "He is gone, and life to me is dark now."
Factoids - This portrait miniature to the left, shows Ida's short hair. With doctors' advice, she kept her hair short to reduce the weight on her cranial nerves, to hopefully relieve her chronic headaches and seizures.  
Bio - 

• Ida was another First Lady from Ohio!  She grew up in a wealthy family, with beliefs centered in abolition and women's rights.  Ida's level of education would be equal to a Master's degree today.  She studied advanced math, foreign languages, and music. After university, Ida worked at her father's bank, then went on a Grand Tour of Europe, exploring, hiking, and meeting people.  When she returned, with a fresh view, she began a romance married lawyer, William McKinley, 
• They had two daughters, who both died young.  During her second pregnancy, Ida developed epileptic seizures and migraines.
• Ida never let the stigma of epilepsy during those times, dictate her life as First Lady.  She attended State Dinners and sat next to William, in case she had a seizure. He would cover her face with a napkin until the seizure ended.  Ida sat outside William's office and listened in on his meetings, giving advice later in the day.  
• Ida was the only First Lady to support the Women's Suffrage Movement until the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.  She corresponded with Susan B. Anthony, lent her voice to suffrage meetings and other causes in society.  When she was too ill to speak or go to meetings, Ida crocheted slippers that were auctioned off at charity events.  It's estimated she crocheted over 3,000 slippers!  Sadly, William was shot by an assassin in 1901 and passed away from infection. 

About William - As 25th President, William McKinley led the U.S. to victory in the Spanish-American War, gaining control of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. He supported protective tariffs and the gold standard, boosting the economy. Assassinated in 1901, his death ushered in the Progressive Era under Theodore Roosevelt.

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Pecan Icebox Cookies

At the time that Ida and William McKinley were in the White House, Ice Box Cookies were very popular.  The name comes from chilling the cookie dough overnight in the ice box - which back then literally was a box of ice! They were a often served by Ida to White House guests.  

​Ingredients
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs, well beaten
1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

Steps

1. In a mixing bowl, mix together until creamy: butter and brown sugar; mix in eggs and vanilla.  Set aside.
2. In another bowl, sift or whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Gradually mix flour into the butter mixture, then fold in the pecans.
4. Divide the dough into three portions. Place each of the dough portions on plastic wrap or wax paper and roll into a log that is 2-inches in diameter.
5. Wrap the rolls tightly and chill in refrigerator (icebox) overnight.
6. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
7. Slice the chilled cookie dough into 1/8-inch thick pieces and arrange on un-greased cookie sheets.
8. Bake 7 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

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Portrait Credits*
Ida McKinley - Side View oval - Emily Drayton Taylor, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Sepia - McKinney & Block, Canton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
William McKinley - August Benziger, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Miss Marieli Benzige, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons