William Howard Taft (#27): The Reluctant President

Young Taft growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio

1857-1880 Cincinnati, Ohio

A Judicial Family

Born on September 15, 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio, William Howard Taft came from a distinguished political family. His father, Alphonso Taft, served as Secretary of War and Attorney General under President Grant. Young Will was a large, jovial boy who excelled at school. He graduated second in his class from Yale and attended Cincinnati Law School, setting his sights on a career in the judiciary from the very beginning.

Taft serving as a federal judge in Cincinnati

1887-1904 Cincinnati & Philippines

Rising Through the Courts

Taft moved steadily up the judicial ladder, serving as a state judge, U.S. Solicitor General, and federal circuit court judge. He loved the law and the bench. President McKinley appointed him to govern the Philippines in 1900, where Taft proved a compassionate and effective administrator. He built roads, schools, and courts, and genuinely cared for the Filipino people, calling them "our little brown brothers."

Roosevelt and Taft together, friends and political allies

1906-1909 Washington, D.C.

Roosevelt's Chosen Successor

Theodore Roosevelt adored Taft and handpicked him as his successor. Taft twice turned down appointment to the Supreme Court because Roosevelt needed him. His wife Nellie pushed him toward the presidency, though Taft confided to friends: "I don't want it." He won the 1908 election easily, but from his first day in office, he was measured against the dynamic Roosevelt and found wanting.

Taft's administration breaking up monopolies in court

1909-1912 Washington, D.C.

The Real Trust-Buster

Despite his mild reputation, Taft filed ninety antitrust lawsuits in four years, more than Roosevelt had in seven. He broke up Standard Oil and American Tobacco, two of the largest monopolies in history. He also established a federal income tax through the Sixteenth Amendment, created the federal budget system, expanded the civil service, and admitted New Mexico and Arizona as states.

Taft stuck in the White House bathtub, a famous legend

1909-1913 Washington, D.C.

The Largest President

At over three hundred pounds, Taft was the largest president in American history. Legend holds he once got stuck in the White House bathtub, though the story may be apocryphal. He had a special oversized tub installed that could hold four ordinary men. Despite his size, Taft was athletic in his youth and remained an avid golfer. He was the first president to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game.

Roosevelt and Taft in bitter political rivalry

1910-1912 United States

The Break with Roosevelt

Roosevelt grew increasingly disappointed with Taft, believing he had abandoned progressive principles. Their friendship disintegrated into bitter rivalry. In 1912, Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination. When the party chose Taft, Roosevelt bolted and ran as the Progressive "Bull Moose" candidate. The split was deeply personal. Taft reportedly wept, saying: "Roosevelt was my closest friend."

The 1912 three-way election results showing Taft's devastating loss

1912-1913 United States

Crushed in 1912

The 1912 election was a three-way race between Taft, Roosevelt, and Democrat Woodrow Wilson. With the Republican vote split, Taft suffered the worst defeat of any sitting president, winning only eight electoral votes and two states. He finished third. Yet on election night, Taft seemed almost relieved. He left the presidency gladly, becoming a law professor at Yale and the happiest ex-president in memory.

Taft being sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

1921-1930 Washington, D.C.

Chief Justice at Last

In 1921, President Harding fulfilled Taft's lifelong dream by appointing him Chief Justice of the United States. Taft served with distinction for nine years, modernizing the federal court system and overseeing construction of the Supreme Court building. He called the chief justiceship "the highest honor I have ever had." He was the only person in history to lead both the executive and judicial branches. He died in 1930.

The Supreme Court building that Taft championed

The Man Who Found His Place

William Howard Taft's story is a reminder that greatness comes in many forms. He was a more effective president than history remembers, and a Chief Justice who transformed the Supreme Court into a co-equal branch of government. Pushed into a job he never wanted, Taft endured it with grace, then spent his final years in the role he was born to fill. He is the only American to have held the nation's two highest offices.