In the United States, running for president is called a “run.” “Run” literally means to run or move quickly. Participating in a presidential campaign requires traveling across states for rallies, giving speeches, and winning voters’ support—usually over the course of about a year. However, in U.S. history, some presidents campaigned from home. At that time, there was no television, no radio broadcasting, not even a phonograph—how could people know you were running if you stayed at home?

In 1896, Republican William McKinley campaigned from home. At the time, he was governor of Ohio and confident of his victory. Rather than traveling widely, he stayed home and welcomed visitors. Supporters responded: railroad companies provided special trains free of charge directly to McKinley’s home in Ohio.

Each train, carrying voters, received the same reception: a band greeted them at the station, and together they marched to McKinley’s home. Voters surrounded his front porch to hear him speak, and some secretly took small pieces of the railing as souvenirs.

McKinley listened to representatives’ remarks, delivered short speeches from the porch, and shook hands with attendees. One group would leave, and the next group would arrive. This became known as the “porch campaign.” On one day, McKinley received 30 groups of supporters, totaling over 80,000 people.

His Democratic opponent, William Jennings Bryan, campaigned differently. He traveled to 27 states and delivered speeches to 5 million people. Bryan spent $650,000 on the campaign, while McKinley spent $3.5 million. McKinley won the election.

On September 5, 1901, McKinley was giving a speech at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, when he was shot twice by an anarchist assassin. He later died from infection and poisoning caused by the wounds.