Happy Birthday Big Bill
On September 15, 1857 (155 years ago today) William Howard Taft was born He was the 27th President of the United States and later became the tenth Chief Justice of the United States. He is the only person to have served in both of these offices.
Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a prominent family. His father had served as Secretary of War and Attorney-General in the cabinet of President Ulysses Grant. He became a lawyer in 1880 and served as a prosecutor as well as the local Collector of Internal Revenue. Taft was appointed as a Judge of the Ohio Superior Court in 1887. In 1890, Taft was named Solicitor General of the United States by President Benjamin Harrison. In 1891 he was named a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. He became a close friend of President Theodore Roosevelt and in 1904 Roosevelt appointed Taft as the Secretary of War in an effort to groom Taft as his handpicked presidential successor. Taft assumed a prominent role in problem solving, assuming on some occasions the role of acting Secretary of State. Riding a wave of popular support for Roosevelt, Taft won an easy election victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency, defeating two-time loser William Jennings Bryan.
Taft's domestic agenda emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and passage of the Sixteenth Amendment (which allowed the government to impose income tax without apportioning the revenue collected among the states.)
In foreign affairs, Taft sought to advance the economic development of nations in Latin America and Asia through what became known as "Dollar Diplomacy". Taft was oblivious to the political ramifications of many of his decisions. He alienated many of his supporters, including Roosevelt. He was badly defeated in his bid for a second term in the presidential election of 1912, placing third behind Democrat Woodrow Wilson and his mentor Roosevelt, who ran as a candidate for the Progressive (or "Bull Moose") Party.
After leaving office, Taft spent his time in the academic world, as an arbitrator, and in the search for world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States. Taft served in this capacity until shortly before his death in 1930. He died on March 8, 1930 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Taft is remembered by some historians as being the heaviest president, weighing over 300 pounds. He was said to have an insatiable appetite and his weight problem is said to have caused him to have loud belches and chronic flatulence. One embarrassing episode involved Taft becoming stuck in a bath tub in the White House. He called for his staff members to use butter to dislodge him from the tub. Within a year of leaving the presidency, Taft took up the practice of going on long walks. He lost about 80 pounds, which in turn resolved his somnolence problem and, lowered his systolic blood pressure, which in turn extended his life.
Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a prominent family. His father had served as Secretary of War and Attorney-General in the cabinet of President Ulysses Grant. He became a lawyer in 1880 and served as a prosecutor as well as the local Collector of Internal Revenue. Taft was appointed as a Judge of the Ohio Superior Court in 1887. In 1890, Taft was named Solicitor General of the United States by President Benjamin Harrison. In 1891 he was named a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. He became a close friend of President Theodore Roosevelt and in 1904 Roosevelt appointed Taft as the Secretary of War in an effort to groom Taft as his handpicked presidential successor. Taft assumed a prominent role in problem solving, assuming on some occasions the role of acting Secretary of State. Riding a wave of popular support for Roosevelt, Taft won an easy election victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency, defeating two-time loser William Jennings Bryan.
Taft's domestic agenda emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and passage of the Sixteenth Amendment (which allowed the government to impose income tax without apportioning the revenue collected among the states.)
In foreign affairs, Taft sought to advance the economic development of nations in Latin America and Asia through what became known as "Dollar Diplomacy". Taft was oblivious to the political ramifications of many of his decisions. He alienated many of his supporters, including Roosevelt. He was badly defeated in his bid for a second term in the presidential election of 1912, placing third behind Democrat Woodrow Wilson and his mentor Roosevelt, who ran as a candidate for the Progressive (or "Bull Moose") Party.
After leaving office, Taft spent his time in the academic world, as an arbitrator, and in the search for world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States. Taft served in this capacity until shortly before his death in 1930. He died on March 8, 1930 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Taft is remembered by some historians as being the heaviest president, weighing over 300 pounds. He was said to have an insatiable appetite and his weight problem is said to have caused him to have loud belches and chronic flatulence. One embarrassing episode involved Taft becoming stuck in a bath tub in the White House. He called for his staff members to use butter to dislodge him from the tub. Within a year of leaving the presidency, Taft took up the practice of going on long walks. He lost about 80 pounds, which in turn resolved his somnolence problem and, lowered his systolic blood pressure, which in turn extended his life.