William Howard Taft

1
William Howard Taft

• The 27th President
• Term was 1908-1912
• Republican
• Appointed by Teddy himself to succeed him

2
Taft

• Distinguished jurist, effective administrator,
  but a poor politician.
• Taft spent four uncomfortable years in the White
  House.
• He was a large, jovial, conscientious man.
• Caught in a battle.

3
Brief Bio

• Born in 1857 the son of a distinguished judge
• Graduated from Yale
• Studied and practiced law in Cincinnati.
• Rose in politics through Republican judiciary
  appointments.
• The route to the White House was via
  administrative posts.
• Secretary of War under Roosevelts
  Administration.
• Roosevelt then nominated him as his successor.
• He served one term
• After his presidency he taught law at Yale for 8
  years.
• In 1921 he was appointed chief justice for the
  Supreme Court by President Harding.

4
The campaign

• one of the most uncomfortable four months of my
  life.
• Progressives were happy to have him in the west.
• Conservatives were happy to have him in the east.
  (They got rid of Roosevelt).

5
As president

• Taft didnt believe in stretching of Presidential
  powers.
• Taft alienated many liberal Republicans who later
  formed the Progressive Party.
• Taft signed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff after
  campaigning to cut tariffs.
• This continued high tariffs
• Taft appointed Richard A Ballinger as secretary
  of the interior.
• Taft a conservative wanted to leave things as
  they were.

6
Accomplishments

• His administration initiated 90 antitrust suits
• The Congress submitted to the states amendments
  for a Federal income tax and the direct election
  of senators.
• Interstate Commerce Commission was directed to
  set railroad rates.