What if I told you that one man held the highest office in both the executive and judicial branches of the United States government? I am talking about William Howard Taft. He was the 27th President and later the 10th Chief Justice.
William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati Ohio. His birthdate was September 15 1857. He died in Washington D.C. on March 8 1930. Taft’s father Alphonso Taft was also a notable figure. He served as a U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of War.
Taft attended Yale. He joined Skull and Bones. His father was a founding member. After Yale Taft became a lawyer. He quickly rose through the ranks. He became a judge while still in his twenties. William McKinley appointed Taft civilian governor of the Philippines in 1901. Theodore Roosevelt made him Secretary of War in 1904. Roosevelt then chose Taft as his successor.
With Roosevelt’s help Taft secured the Republican nomination. This happened in 1908. He then defeated William Jennings Bryan to win the presidency.
As president William Howard Taft focused on East Asia. He intervened in Latin American governments. Taft sought to lower trade tariffs. Special interests heavily influenced the resulting bill. This caused conflict within the Republican Party. The party had conservative and progressive wings. Controversies over conservation and antitrust cases further divided the party.
In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt challenged Taft for the presidential nomination. Taft used his control of the party to gain delegates. Roosevelt then bolted the party. He ran as a third-party candidate. This split the Republican vote and allowed Woodrow Wilson to win.
After leaving office William Howard Taft became a professor at Yale. He remained politically active. Then in 1921 Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice. This was an office he had long desired. As Chief Justice Taft was conservative on business issues. He also oversaw advances in individual rights.
Poor health forced Taft to resign in February 1930. He died the following month. William Howard Taft was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the first president and Supreme Court justice interred there.
William Howard Taft’s presidency is often viewed as less dynamic than Roosevelt’s. Taft himself admitted that politics made him sick. His wife Helen Herron Taft encouraged him to pursue the presidency. Despite the challenges Taft left a lasting mark. He served as both President and Chief Justice.
Interestingly Taft successfully argued for constructing the U.S. Supreme Court Building. He felt the Supreme Court needed to be separate from Congress. Before that the Supreme Court met in the Capitol Building.
William Howard Taft began a tradition that continues today. He was the first president to throw the first pitch of baseball season. This happened in 1910. The game featured the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics. The Senators won.
At over 330 pounds William Howard Taft was the heaviest president. The White House even had to replace a bathtub. It was big enough to hold four men.
William Howard Taft’s story is one of ambition duty and a unique place in American history. He served as president and chief justice. He left an enduring legacy.