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Boehner’s Latest Fight With Obama? Renaming Mount McKinley

Ohio lawmakers like Boehner have criticized the name change to Denali. (Mandel Ngan/AFP File Photo)
Ohio lawmakers like Boehner have criticized the name change to Denali. (Mandel Ngan/AFP File Photo)

For many in the state of Alaska, Sunday was a day for rejoicing. But for Ohioans such as Speaker John A. Boehner, that was not the case.  

The White House revealed Sunday President Barack Obama would be announcing the renaming of the mountain long known as Mount McKinley in honor of President William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell formally signed an order regarding the designation on Friday.  

“There is a reason President McKinley’s name has served atop the highest peak in North America for more than 100 years, and that is because it is a testament to his great legacy. McKinley served our country with distinction during the Civil War as a member of the Army. He made a difference for his constituents and his state as a member of the House of Representatives and as Governor of the great state of Ohio. And he led this nation to prosperity and victory in the Spanish-American War as the 25th President of the United States,” Boehner said in a statement Sunday night. “I’m deeply disappointed in this decision.”  

Alaskans have long pushed for the name change, and both current GOP senators were quick to applaud the Obama administration for the move, which comes just ahead of the president’s trip to tour Alaska.  


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