William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, was born on June 15, 1857.

William Howard Taft was born on September 15, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Alphonso Taft and Louise Torrey Taft.

William Howard Taft was born on September 15, 1857.

William H. Taft graduated as salutatorian from Woodward High School in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1874.

Alphonso Taft briefly served as Secretary of War in 1876.

William Howard Taft graduated second in his class from Yale University in 1878.

In 1880, William Howard Taft graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, marking a significant milestone in his journey to becoming a lawyer.

In 1886, William Howard Taft married Helen Herron, also known as Nellie. Their marriage marked a significant personal milestone in Taft's life.

In 1887, Governor Joseph B. Foraker appointed Taft to the superior court of Ohio.

In 1888, Taft won an election to a five-year term.

William Howard Taft was appointed as a federal circuit judge at the age of 34, following in the footsteps of his father, Alphonso Taft, who was a former U.S. Attorney General and a distinguished judge.

In 1892, William Howard Taft was appointed as a Federal circuit judge at the age of 34, showcasing his dedication to law over politics.

Following his appointment to head the commission overseeing the Philippines Territory, Taft left his federal judgeship to assume the role of Governor-General. This move further solidified his involvement in national politics and governance.

President William McKinley was assassinated, leading to Vice President Roosevelt assuming the presidency and impacting the nomination of Taft for the Supreme Court.

In 1904, William Howard Taft accepted the position of Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt.

In 1907, President Roosevelt decided that William Howard Taft should be his successor and made him Secretary of War. The Republican Convention then nominated Taft as the next President the following year.

On June 16, 1908, William Howard Taft was nominated for President at the Republican Convention.

On July 28, 1908, William Howard Taft addressed and accepted the Republican presidential nomination, following Roosevelt's precedent of not separately sending a letter accepting the nomination.

On November 3, 1908, William Howard Taft won the presidential election, defeating William Jennings Bryan. This event marked Taft's victory and his election as the President of the United States.

William Howard Taft was elected as the 27th President of the United States after winning the Presidential election in 1908, defeating William Jennings Bryan. He was hand-picked by Theodore Roosevelt as his successor.

On March 4, 1909, William Howard Taft was inaugurated as the 27th President of the United States, serving until March 4, 1913.

In his inaugural address, President Taft emphasized policy areas including regulation of corporations, tariff reform, strengthening the army and navy, currency laws, Panama Canal, labor legislation, and legislation regarding the admission of Asiatic immigrants. He also advocated for laws excluding both negroes and white individuals without education or other necessary qualifications from voting, while expressing approval for the industrial education of the negro population.

A special session of the United States Congress convenes to consider revision of the tariff. On March 16, Taft sends a special message to Congress urging prompt revision of the tariff.

Taft delivers an address at the Cleveland Memorial Exercises in Carnegie Hall, reflecting on the legacy of former President Grover Cleveland.

Taft establishes the Navajo National Monument by proclamation, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.

On June 16, 1909, Taft delivers a message to Congress proposing a two-percent tax on the net income of all corporations except banks, which he believes will make up for revenue lost by tariff reductions. He also proposes that Congress adopt a constitutional amendment that would permit the collection of personal federal income taxes.

President Taft requests China to grant American investors a share of a loan for building a railroad in southern China. China reluctantly grants the United States investment privileges.

President Taft proclaims the establishment of the Oregon Caves National Monument, preserving the natural beauty and significance of the caves for future generations.

President Taft signs the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, which results in a moderate decrease in tariff rates and the creation of the Court of Customs Appeals and a Board of General Appraisers. The act also grants authority to appoint individuals to assist in the discharge of duties.

President Taft requests a full record from the Department of the Interior regarding the dispute between Gifford Pinchot and Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger, demonstrating his commitment to transparency and thorough understanding of the situation.

President delivers remarks at a banquet of Boston Chamber of Commerce, primarily discussing banking reform and the effects of the tariff bill.

The U.S. South and West tour, which began on September 17, 1909, started from Beverly, NY and covered various cities including Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, Prescott, Corpus Christi, Dallas, St. Louis, New Orleans, Macon, Charleston, Richmond, and Norfolk.

During an address in Denver, CO on September 21, 1909, William Howard Taft discussed a corporation tax that was passed as a part of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act.

On September 25, 1909, William Howard Taft established the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah by proclamation.

During an address at Spokane, Washington on September 28, 1909, William Howard Taft outlined his administration’s policy on the conservation of natural resources.

Taft expresses his support for Arizona statehood during his address at the Phoenix City Hall in Phoenix, AZ.

Taft makes remarks at a meeting with the President of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz, in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. This marks the first presidential visit to Mexico, and the journey is undertaken by train. They exchange introductions of Cabinet members before having private talks.

The tour of the U.S. South and West, which began in Beverly, NY, concludes on November 10, 1909. The tour covered various cities including Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, Prescott, Corpus Christi, Dallas, St. Louis, New Orleans, Macon, Charleston, Richmond, and Norfolk.

Louis Glavis accuses Secretary of the Interior Richard Ballinger of conspiring to defraud the public domain in the Alaskan coal fields, implicating the Taft administration in Ballinger's alleged wrongdoing.

The dispatch of warships to Nicaragua by the Taft administration signifies the increasing involvement of the United States in the region's affairs.

President Taft sends two U.S. warships to Nicaragua in response to the deaths of 500 revolutionaries and two American advisors at the hands of Nicaragua dictator José Santos Zelaya. The threat of American force leads to Zelaya's retirement on December 16.

President Taft discusses the administration’s approval of colonization efforts in Africa, the first presidential meeting in Mexico with Porfirio Díaz, and the protection of American enterprise in foreign nations. He also focuses on creating more specialized and region divisions within the State Department, plans for civil service reform, enhancing government efficiency, and efforts to admit Arizona and New Mexico as states.

President Taft dismisses Gifford Pinchot, the head of the United States Forest Services, after Pinchot advocated for his employees involved in the Glavis case. Pinchot was a prominent conservationist and a well-known federal official.

President Taft fires Gifford Pinchot, the head of US Forest Services, due to a disagreement over the 'Ballinger Affair.' This action further divides the Republican Party between Taft and Roosevelt.

President Taft delivers a special message to Congress, emphasizing the importance of conservation of resources, especially in the context of diminishing public domain acreage.

President Taft addresses the National Civic Federation, advocating for uniform legislation across states regarding the conservation of resources, marriage, and divorce.

President Taft reviews the key promises of the 1908 Republican Platform and describes their implementation during the Lincoln Birthday Banquet.

President Taft appoints Governor Charles E. Hughes of New York to the Supreme Court.

At a congressional investigation into the Glavis-Ballinger dispute, attorney Louis Brandeis, representing Glavis, reveals damaging information about the Taft administration. Congress clears Ballinger and the Taft administration of any wrongdoing, however.

At the direction of President Taft, Attorney General Wickersham obtains an injunction from United States District Judge David P. Dyer to prevent Western Railroads from raising freight rates.

President Taft signs the Mann-Elkin Act (36 Stat 539) which expands the scope of the Interstate Commerce Commission to incorporate regulation of interstate oil pipelines, telegraph, telephone, radio, and cable companies. It also creates a 'commerce court' to consider all cases relating to enforcement action of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

President Taft signs the conservation bill (36 Stat 933) providing funding for the construction, repair, and preservation of certain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes. In his Message, he complains that the amounts appropriated are inadequate.

President Taft rejects a proposed dinner that would honor both himself and Theodore Roosevelt, given by the National Conservation Congress.

At the New York State Republican Convention in Saratoga, New York, Taft expresses his support for Roosevelt's choice for governor of New York, Henry Stimson.

President Taft orders the mobilization of 20,000 American soldiers along the Mexican border in response to concerns raised by the American ambassador to Mexico about the safety of Americans living in Mexico.

President Taft appoints Walter Fisher, a supporter of Gifford Pinchot, as the new Secretary of the Interior, replacing Richard Ballinger who had resigned.

President Taft appoints Henry Stimson as the new Secretary of War, replacing Jacob Dickinson.

President Taft signs the Canadian Tariff Reciprocity Agreement.

Senate Joint Resolution 57 (37 Stat 39) was signed, admitting New Mexico and Arizona as states, conditional on Arizona voters adopting a constitutional amendment removing the provision objected to by Taft in his veto message.

President Taft signs general arbitration treaties with France and England. There is opposition to the treaties led by Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

Taft vetoed 'An act to reduce the duties on manufactures of cotton', citing the lack of systematic investigation of the effects of the changes and the absence of explanations for some changes. The veto went unchallenged.

President Taft vetoes tariff reductions on wool and woolen goods, citing incomplete investigation by the Tariff Board.

In October 1911, President Taft files a lawsuit against U.S. Steel for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act. He alleges that Roosevelt's decision in 1907 to allow U.S. Steel to acquire the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company was a mistake, leading to irreparable damage in the relationship between Taft and Roosevelt.

On November 9, 1911, William Howard Taft dedicated the Lincoln Memorial Hall.

Taft predicts defeat for the Republicans in 1912 during his remarks to the Hamilton Club of Chicago. This prediction is widely noted in newspapers.

President Taft calls for the adoption of an annual federal budget.

On February 14, 1912, William Howard Taft signed the Arizona Statehood Bill during his presidency.

President Taft appoints Julia Lathrop as the head of the newly-created Children's Bureau, making her the highest ranking woman in the U.S. government.

Taft wins the Republican presidential nomination over Theodore Roosevelt, featuring a thorough discussion within the Republican Party on the issue of government regulation.

Amid controversy over convention delegates claimed by Theodore Roosevelt, President Taft is nominated on the first ballot. Roosevelt is not formally put in nomination.

President Taft accepts renomination for President of the U.S. by the Republican party.

President Taft vetoed a bill that proposed literacy tests for immigrants.

President Taft vetoed the Webb-Kenyon Interstate Liquor Act, stating that it violated the interstate commerce clause of the Constitution. However, the veto was overridden in the Senate on February 28, 1913, and in the House on March 1, 1913, making it the only Taft veto to be overridden.

President Taft signed an Act to create a Department of Labor, splitting the Department of Labor and Commerce into two departments, each with cabinet status.

After his presidency, Taft began his appointment as a Professor of Law at Yale University.

William Howard Taft was appointed as the 10th chief justice of the United States on July 11, 1921, and served in this role until his death in 1930. His tenure as chief justice had a significant impact on the U.S. legal system.

Taft upheld the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce in the case of Stafford v. Wallace in 1922.

In 1926, Taft endorsed the power of the president to fire members of the executive branch in the case of Myers v. United States.

William Howard Taft retired from the court on February 3, 1930, due to failing health.

William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States, passed away in Washington, D.C. on March 8, 1930.

The Index to the William Howard Taft Papers was published in Washington, D.C. in 1972. It is a collection of documents and materials related to William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States.