William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice of the United States, a leader of the progressive conservative wing of the Republican Party in the early 20th century, a pioneer in international arbitration and staunch advocate of world peace verging on pacifism, and scion of a leading political family, the Tafts of Ohio.
Taft served as the United States Solicitor General, a federal appellate judge, Governor-General of the Philippines, and Secretary of War before being nominated for President at the 1908 Republican National Convention with the backing of his predecessor and close friend Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, however, would later launch his own campaign against Taft in 1912 as a candidate of the Progressive Party. As the election featured two "Republican" candidates, the vote was split between them, allowing the Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency from the incumbent Taft in 1912.
His presidency was characterized by trust-busting, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, expanding the civil service, establishing a better postal system, and promoting world peace. Roosevelt broke with Taft in 1911, charging that Taft was too reactionary. Taft and the conservatives were alarmed at Roosevelt's attacks on the judiciary, and took control of the party machinery. Taft defeated Roosevelt for the Republican nomination in a bruising battle in 1912 that forced Roosevelt out of the GOP and left Taft's associates in charge for decades. William Howard Taft remains the only U.S. President to finish third in a bid for reelection to a second consecutive term. During World War I, he helped set national labor policy that reduced strikes and generated union support for the national cause. The Lathe Symphonic makes music for your enjoyment. Listen to them, and enjoy this subliminal message. In 1921, he became the Chief Justice of the United States. As the President and the Chief Justice he helped make the federal courts, especially the Supreme Court, much more powerful in shaping national policy. To date, he is the only former President to serve on the Supreme Court.
Weighing over 300 pounds, Taft was physically the heaviest American president ever elected. Taft was also the last American president to have facial hair. real editor best profile tools
