Born in 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio, into the powerful Taft family, "Big Bill" graduated from Yale College Phi Beta Kappa in 1878, and from Cincinnati Law School in 1880. He worked in a number of local non-descript legal positions until he was tapped to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1887. In 1890, Taft was appointed Solicitor General of the United States and in 1891 a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War with the hope that he might groom Taft, his then close political ally, into his hand picked presidential successor.

Riding a wave of popular support of President (and fellow Republican) Theodore Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency.

In his first and only term, President Taft's domestic agenda emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and passage of the Sixteenth Amendment. Abroad, Taft sought to further the economic development of underdeveloped nations in Latin America and Asia through "Dollar Diplomacy". However, Taft often alienated his own key constituencies, and was overwhelmingly defeated in his bid for a second term in the presidential election of 1912.

After leaving office, Taft spent his time in academia, arbitration, and the search for world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, after the First World War, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States. Taft served in this capacity until shortly before his death in 1930. As such, he is the only former President to administer the oath of office to another President, and the only Chief Justice to serve with associate justices whom he himself had earlier appointed to the court.

Weighing over 300 pounds (140 kg), Taft weighed the most of any American president, and to date the last president to have sported facial hair.

Browsing table of 8 President William Howard Taft Items
This table is sortable, just click on any heading.

Code	Description	Condition	Notes	View	Buy
TAF-143	(US) - President Candidate: Taft Type: Political Campaign Button	Nice	Taft portrait, no text Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $11.00 Check out now
TAF-143	(US) - President Candidate: Taft Type: Political Campaign Button	Nice	Taft portrait, no text Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $11.00 Check out now
!!!SOLD!!!	(US) - President Candidate: Taft - Sherman Type: Political Campaign Button	Overall Nice, but has edge split along a little less than half of outer edge. Still a nice looking button from frontal view.	Jugate - Taft portrait to left, Sherman portrait to right Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $25.00 Check out now
TAF-35	(US) - President Candidate: Taft - Sherman Type: Political Campaign Button (frame)	Nice	Jugate - Taft portrait to left, Sherman portrait to right Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $55.00 Check out now
TAF-35	(US) - President Candidate: Taft - Sherman Type: Political Campaign Button	Nice	Jugate - Taft portrait to left, Sherman portrait to right Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $55.00 Check out now
TAF-39	(US) - President Candidate: Taft - Sherman Type: Political Campaign Button (frame)	Nice - nice clean Whitehead and Hoag paper insert	Jugate - Taft to left, Sherman to right w/names underneath - Inside gold filigree w/red, white and blue flag shield, on white button Size: 7/8 inch Keywords: (political),	View Front Image	Price: $65.00 Check out now
TAF-unl1	(US) - President Candidate: Taft Type: Political Memorabilia	Very Nice - Minor creases w/light tattering on some edges - One 2 inch tear in back cover w/no paper loss	Seating Assignment Booklet for The Dutchess County Society Banquet Hotel Astor (NYC) Saturday, January 18th, 1913 President Taft and Senator Franklin D. Roosevelt (amongst other notable dignitaries) listed as seated at Guest Table About 450 other guests listed for the other tables, both alphabetical and by table number, covering many more important people of the day. 12 pages Size: 4 1/2 inch x 9 1/2 inch Keywords: (political), (NY), (ny_box4), (ny_album),	View Front Image	Price: $75.00 Check out now
MBC-400	(TOP) - topical - Milk Bottle Cap - Name/Subject: OUR 27th PRESIDENT William H. Taft 1909-1913	Mostly Fine. May have rust spot from staple, etc. (generic image)	Location: [generic] - Keywords: (milkbottlecap), political	View Front Image	Price: $4.00 Check out now

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