William Jennings Bryan was an American politician.
Free silver . Free silver was the central issue for Democrats in the presidential election of 1896 and that of 1900 , under the leadership of William Jennings Bryan , famed for his Cross of Gold speech in favor of free silver . The United States presidential election of 1900 was the 29th quadrennial presidential election , held on Tuesday , November 6 , 1900 . William Jennings Bryan . He served two terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska and was United States Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson ( 1913 -- 1915 ) .