William Howard Taft Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the 27th President of the United States (1909–1913) and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930). He is the only person to have served in both of these offices.Before becoming President, Taft, a Republican, was appointed to serve on the Superior Court of Cincinnati in 1887. In 1890, Taft was appointed Solicitor General of the United States and in 1891 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. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War in an effort to groom Taft, then his close political ally, into his handpicked presidential successor. Taft assumed a prominent role in problem solving, assuming on some occasions the role of acting Secretary of State, while declining repeated offers from Roosevelt to serve on the Supreme Court.Riding a wave of popular support for fellow Republican Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency. In his only term, 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. Abroad, Taft sought to further the economic development of nations in Latin America and Asia through "Dollar Diplomacy", and showed decisiveness and restraint in response to revolution in Mexico. The task-oriented Taft was oblivious to the political ramifications of his decisions, often alienated his own key constituencies, and was overwhelmingly defeated in his bid for a second term in the presidential election of 1912. In surveys of presidential scholars, Taft is usually ranked near the middle of lists of all American Presidents.After leaving office, Taft spent his time in academia, arbitration, and the pursuit of world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, after the First World War, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States. He served in this capacity until shortly before his death in 1930.
Robert Alphonso, Helen Herron, and Charles Phelps, Robert, Helen, and Charles
Parents
Alphonso Taft, Louise Taft
Siblings
Henry Waters Taft, Horace Dutton Taft, Charles Phelps Taft, Frances Louise Taft, Peter Rawson Taft II
Star Sign
Virgo
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Quote
1
I do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and there are many other of the postulates of the orthodox creed to which I cannot subscribe.
2
A system in which we may have an enforced rest from legislation for two years is not bad.
3
I do not know much about politics, but I am trying to do the best I can with this administration until the time shall come for me to turn it over to somebody else.
4
I'll be damned if I am not getting tired of this. It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk.
5
As the Republican platforms says, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country.
6
No, the only things which do not bother me are the elements. I can overcome them without a fight. All one has to do to get the best of the elements is to stand pat and one will win.
7
I love judges, and I love courts. They are my ideals, that typify on earth what we shall meet hereafter in heaven under a just God.
8
Failure to accord credit to anyone for what he may have done is a great weakness in any man.
9
The world is not going to be saved by legislation.
10
I have come to the conclusion that the major part of the work of a President is to increase the gate receipts of expositions and fairs and bring tourists to town.
11
Action for which I become responsible, or for which my administration becomes responsible, shall be within the law.
12
I think I might as well give up being a candidate. There are so many people in the country who don't like me.
13
I am afraid I am a constant disappointment to my party. The fact of the matter is, the longer I am president the less of a party man I seem to become.
14
Don't worry over what the newspapers say. I don't. Why should anyone else? I told the truth to the newspaper correspondents - but when you tell the truth to them they are at sea.
15
Politics makes me sick.
16
I am in favor of helping the prosperity of all countries because, when we are all prosperous, the trade with each becomes more valuable to the other.
17
Socialism proposes no adequate substitute for the motive of enlightened selfishness that today is at the basis of all human labor and effort, enterprise and new activity.
18
If this humor be the safety of our race, then it is due largely to the infusion into the American people of the Irish brain.
19
No tendency is quite so strong in human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people.
20
Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever.
21
A government is for the benefit of all the people.
22
Don't write so that you can be understood, write so that you can't be misunderstood.
23
We are all imperfect. We can not expect perfect government.
24
Enthusiasm for a cause sometimes warps judgment.
25
We live in a stage of politics, where legislators seem to regard the passage of laws as much more important than the results of their enforcement.
26
I am president now, and tired of being kicked around.
27
The trouble with me is that I like to talk too much.
28
Substantial progress toward better things can rarely be taken without developing new evils requiring new remedies.
29
Anti-Semitism is a noxious weed that should be cut out. It has no place in America.
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Fact
1
Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Politics & Leadership.
2
While a professor at the University of Cincinnati School of Law, he advised one of his students, Miller Huggins, to pursue baseball after Huggins realized that he could make more money playing baseball than practicing law. Huggins played for the Cincinnati Reds (1904-1909), and the St. Louis Cardinals (1910-1916), then managed the Cardinals (1913-1917), and New York Yankees (1918-1929).
When he died in 1930, he left the bulk of his estate, valued at $475,000 to his wife, Helen.
6
One of two presidents buried at Arlington National Cemetary, the other being John F. Kennedy.
7
In 1929 Taft kept forgetting the words when he swore Herbert Hoover in as President. It has been suggested that Taft may have been displaying symptoms of Alzheimer's disease at the end of his life.
8
In 1914, he awarded the winner's cup in a fat-baby contest to the then one-year-old Lloyd Bridges.
9
His great-grandson, Robert Alphonso Taft II (Bob Taft), was the Governor of Ohio (1 January 1, 1999 - 8 January 2007).
10
Taft was hand-picked to run for the presidency by Theodore Roosevelt when he announced that he would not run for a second term. But Roosevelt was unhappy that many of the policies that he had put into motion were slowly unraveling in Taft's administration. So when Taft ran for reelection Roosevelt, who had been Taft's best friend, turned on him and began to speak horribly of him in public. It hurt Taft greatly that his friend turned on him, but still he was satisfied that the office had gone to Woodrow Wilson and not the ingrate Roosevelt. The two never spoke again.
11
He is the only former president ever to have sworn in a new president into office. In 1923 he swore in Calvin Coolidge while serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
12
No one had more humor about Taft's weight than Taft himself. Once, he famously joked that he was the ultimate gentleman because he gave up his seat on a streetcar to three ladies.
13
At well over 300 pounds he was the heaviest of all of the American Presidents. Once he famously became stuck in the White House bathtub and had to be pried out. Afterwards a wider tub, built especially for him, was installed.
14
Although he was famous for his weight, he actually lost 137 pounds after leaving the office. He jokingly said it was because the weight of the job was finally off his shoulders.
15
Goaded into running for the presidency by Theodore Roosevelt, Taft actually hated the job. He preferred the less stressful position of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
16
He become part of the only Presidential election in American history in which the men running were a former president (Theodore Roosevelt), an incumbent (Taft) and a future president (Woodrow Wilson).
17
First former President of the United States to receive the honor of a lying in state who did not die in office.
18
First President of 48 contiguous states.
19
Seventh cousin twice removed of President Richard Nixon.
20
President of the United States, 4 March 1909 - 4 March 1913.
21
Chief Justice of the United States; 11 July 1921 (date took oath) - 3 February 1930 (resigned shortly before his death).
22
Children: daughter Helen; sons Charles and Robert A. Taft.
23
Only person to become President of the United States and Chief Justice of the United States.
24
Pictured on a US 4¢ regular series postage stamp issued 4 June 1930.
25
Buried with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
26
Pictured on the 50¢ US postage stamp in the Presidential Series, issued 8 December 1938.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The President's Pardon
1913
Short
William Howard Taft - Former President of the USA
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Pathé News, No. 54
1916
Short
Himself
Hearst-International News Pictorial, No. 53
1916
Documentary short
Himself
Selig-Tribune, No. 25
1916
Short
Himself
Taft Playing Golf
1915
Short
Himself
The Patriot
1913
Short
Himself, Outgoing President
Inauguration Ceremonies
1913
Documentary short
Himself, Outgoing President
Inauguration of President Wilson
1913
Documentary short
Himself
The Latest Addition to the U.S. Navy
1912
Documentary short
Himself - President of the U.S.A.
Taft's Day at Brockton Fair
1912
Documentary short
Himself
A Visit to Our President's Summer Home
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 41
1912
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 35
1912
Short
Himself
Animated Weekly, No. 22
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 26
1912
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 25
1912
Short
Himself
Presidential Possibilities
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Uncle Hiram Visits Washington
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Animated Weekly, No. 10
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 18
1912
Short
Himself
Animated Weekly, No. 7
1912
Documentary short
Himself
The Burial of the Maine
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Taft and His Cabinet
1912
Documentary short
Himself - President
Pathé's Weekly, No. 11
1912
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 10
1912
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 9
1912
Short
Himself
President Taft Signing the Arizona Bill
1912
Documentary short
Himself
Hutchinson, Kansas, Semi-Centennial Celebration
1912
Documentary short
Himself (as President Taft)
President Taft Dedicating the Naval Training Station at Chicago, Il.
1911
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 48
1911
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 47
1911
Short
Himself
President Taft at San Francisco
1911
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 45
1911
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 44
1911
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 43
1911
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 41
1911
Short
Himself
The Last G.A.R. Parade at Rochester, N.Y.
1911
Documentary short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 40
1911
Short
Himself
Pathé's Weekly, No. 37
1911
Short
Himself
The Vitagraph Monthly of Current Events
1911/I
Short
Himself
President Taft in the Far West
1909
Documentary short
Himself
The Presidential Inauguration Film
1909
Documentary short
Himself
Entrevista de los Presidentes Díaz-Taft
1909
Short documentary
Himself
Taft in Chicago, and at the Ball Game
1909
Documentary short
Himself
Inauguration of President William H. Taft
1909
Documentary short
Himself
With Taft in Panama
1909
Documentary short
Himself
Presidential Possibilities
1908
Documentary short
Himself
Sec'y Taft's Address & Panorama
1904
Documentary short
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
How to Win the US Presidency
2016
Documentary
Himself
The Drunken Peasants
2016
TV Series
Himself
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
2014
TV Series documentary
Himself
America's Book of Secrets
2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Presidents
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Modern Marvels
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself - President of the USA
Where History Lives: A Tour of the White House
2004
TV Short documentary
Himself
Woodrow Wilson and the Birth of the American Century
2002
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The 20th Century: A Moving Visual History
1999
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
The White House
1996
TV Movie documentary
Himself
American Experience
1990-1996
TV Series documentary
Himself / Himself - Chief Justice of the United States
Inside the White House
1995
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Portraits of Presidents: Presidents of a World Power (1901-)
1992
Video documentary
Himself
Project XX
1957
TV Series documentary
Himself - President
I Never Forget a Face
1956
Short documentary
Himself
The Littlest Expert on My Favorite President
1951
Short
Himself
Forgotten Treasure
1943
Short
Himself
March of the Movies
1933
Himself, film clip (uncredited)
Known for movies
Taft and His Cabinet (1912) as Himself - President
Hutchinson, Kansas, Semi-Centennial Celebration (1912) as Himself
The Latest Addition to the U.S. Navy (1912) as Himself - President of the U.S.A.
The Last G.A.R. Parade at Rochester, N.Y. (1911) as Himself
$20 Million