Which President's administration is primarily associated with the Open Door policy?

The administration primarily associated with the Open Door policy is that of William McKinley. This policy, which aimed to ensure equal trading rights for all nations in China and to prevent any one power from monopolizing Chinese trade, originated in a series of notes sent by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 and 1900. McKinley’s support for the policy was rooted in his administration’s desire to increase American commercial interests in China, while also ensuring stability in the region amid rising international tensions and competition among foreign powers.

The Open Door policy is a key tenet of American foreign policy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and reflects the underlying motivations of American imperialism during that era, including economic influence over territorial control. While later administrations, notably that of Theodore Roosevelt, built on the concepts of the Open Door, the foundational policy was established and supported primarily during McKinley’s presidency.