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William Taft
Taft was die opvolger van Roosevelt. Hy het geglo in 'n meer liberale vorm van presidensiële mag as dié van sy voorganger. Dit verklaar gedeeltelik waarom Taft voortdurend in 'n stryd tussen die progressiewe en die konserwatiewes beland het
Die vroeë jare
William Howard Taft is gebore in Cincinnati, Ohio. Taft het 'n aktiewe kinderjare gehad en hy was 'n ywerige bofbalspeler. Taft is opgelei in die openbare skole van Cincinnati vir laerskool en hoërskool. Hy studeer verder aan die Yale -universiteit, as hy die tweede in die klas van 1878 studeer. Nadat hy klaar was, keer Taft terug na Cincinnati toe hy aan die regskool studeer. Hy is in 1880 in die balie opgeneem.
Taft se eerste werk na die voltooiing van die regsskool was assistent -aanklaer van Hamilton County. In 1887 word Taft aangestel as regter in die hooggeregshof in Cincinnati. Taft het van 1890 tot 1892 as Amerikaanse prokureur -generaal gedien en daarna as regter in die Amerikaanse sesde rondgaande hof. Van 1896 tot 1900 was Taft ook professor in die regte en dan dekaan van die Cincinnati Law School.
In 1900 word Taft aangestel as kommissaris van die Filippyne. Dit was sy taak om die stigting van burgerlike administrasie in die Filippyne te verseker, wat die Verenigde State pas in die Spaans-Amerikaanse oorlog verkry het. Van 1901 tot 1904 was Taft die goewerneur -generaal van die Filippyne. Van 1904 tot 1908 was Taft oorlogsekretaris in die Roosevelt -administrasie.
Prestasies in die kantoor
Taft het president geword na Roosevelt. Terwyl hy met die algemene beleid van die Roosevelt -administrasie saamstem, meen Taft dat die mag van die presidensie te ver uitgebrei is deur die vorige administrasie. Taft oefen sy krag in 'n baie mindere mate uit. Dikwels word dit deur die progressiewe Roosevelt -ondersteuners as 'n afstanddoening van beginsels beskou. So het 'n groot breuk in die Republikeinse party ontstaan.
Taft was daartoe verbind om die tariewe te verlaag, en toe hy verkies is, roep hy die kongres hiervoor in 'n spesiale sitting. Kongres slaag daarin om die gemiddelde tarief van 46 na 41 persent te verlaag. Spesiale belangegroepe het egter daarin geslaag om die tarief op verskeie items te verhoog. Taft was 'n ywerige handhawer van die antitrustbeleid van die Roosevelt-administrasie. Hy het herhaaldelik die aantal anti-trustgedinge wat teen monopolistiese korporasies ingestel is, ingestel. Gedurende sy ampstermyn is twee van die grootste monopolieë verbreek - Standard Oil Company en die American Tobacco Company. Onder Taft het die federale regering vir die eerste keer begin met die regulering van die telefoon- en telegraafbedrywe. Die regering het ook die bevoegdheid gekry om interstate -handelspryse vas te stel.
Taft handhaaf 'n aktivistiese benadering tot buitelandse beleid. Aan die een kant was hy die inisieerder van wat bekend staan as Dollar Diplomacy, waarin die Verenigde State sy militêre mag gebruik het om Amerikaanse sakebelange in die buiteland te bevorder. Taft verdedig sy Dollar Diplomacy as 'n uitbreiding van die Monroe Doctrine. Taft was 'n groot voorstander van arbitrasie as die mees lewensvatbare metode om internasionale geskille te besleg.
Na sy nederlaag in die verkiesing van 1912 word Taft hoofregter van die Hooggeregshof, 'n posisie wat hy meer bevredigend vind as die Presidensie.
Die eerste gesin
Vader: Alphonso Taft
Moeder: Louisa Maria Torrey
Vrou: Helen Herron
Dogter: Helen
Seuns: Robert Alphonso, Charles Phelps
Groot gebeurtenisse
Robert Perry arriveer by die Noordpool
Dollar diplomasie
NAACP gestig
Driehoek Vuur
Standaard olie gebreek
Marines gryp in Nicaragua in
Lodge Gevolg
Die Kabinet
Staatsekretaris: Philander Knox
Sekretaris van die tesourie: Franklin MacVeagh
Oorlogsekretarisse: Jacob Dickinson, Henry Stimson
Prokureur -generaal: George Wickersham
Sekretaris van die Vloot: George von Meyers
Posmeester -generaal: Frank Hitchcock
Sekretarisse van Binnelandse Sake: Richard Ballinger, Walter Fisher
Minister van Landbou: James Wilson
Sekretaris van Handel en Arbeid: Charles Nagel
Militêre
VSA het in Nicaragua ingegryp
VSA het ingegryp in die Dominikaanse Republiek
Het jy geweet?
Eerste president wat hoofregter van die hooggeregshof geword het.
Eerste kabinetslid (behalwe die minister van buitelandse sake) wat president geword het.
Eerste president om 'n bofbalseisoen te begin.
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft is gebore in Cincinnati, Ohio, op 15 September 1857. Uit 'n prominente politieke familie het hy sy voorvaders die wet gevolg en was hy op pad om 'n loopbaanregsgeleerde te word, goed op pad na sy droomwerk om op die Hooggeregshof, toe hy deur sy vrou en Theodore Roosevelt vir 'n termyn as die 27ste Amerikaanse president afgeskuif is. Taft het uiteindelik sy droom bereik om in 1921 as hoofregter van die Amerikaanse hooggeregshof aangestel te word en die enigste persoon te word wat as hoofregter en president gedien het. Taft sterf op 8 Maart 1930 in Washington, DC.
Theodore Roosevelt Dbq
Die vroeë deel van die 20ste eeu het 'n toon gegee vir wat later in die lewe vir Amerikaners sou kom. Tye verander nie net rassisties nie, maar met werkers, sakeondernemings, vroue, die lewe en uiteindelik die regulering van wat Amerika sou word. In 1901 nadat McKinley vermoor is, word Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt president. Hy was ses jaar president as gevolg van sy progressiewe maniere. Amerika het nog nie 'n man in beheer soos Roosevelt gesien nie, hy was lekker, gesellig en altyd bereid om met mense te praat
Taft familie
Die eerste bekende voorouer van die Taft -familie is Richard Robert Taft, wat in 1700 in County Louth, Ierland, gesterf het, en waar sy seun, Robert Taft Sr., omstreeks 1640 gebore is. Robert Taft Sr. sou die eerste Taft wees migreer na die huidige Verenigde State. Hy trou in 1668 in Braintree, Massachusetts, met sy vrou Sarah Simpson, wat in Januarie 1640 in Engeland gebore is. Robert Taft Sr. het 'n opstal begin in die huidige Uxbridge en dan Mendon, ongeveer 1680, en dit is waar hy en sy vrou in 1725 en 1726 onderskeidelik gesterf het. Sy seun, Robert Taft Jr., was in 1727 lid van die stigteraad van Selectmen vir die nuwe stad Uxbridge.
'N Tak van die Massachusetts Taft -familie stam af van Daniel Taft Sr., seun van Robert Taft Sr., gebore te Braintree, 1677–1761, oorlede te Mendon. Daniel, vrederegter in Mendon, het 'n seun Josiah Taft, later uit Uxbridge, [2] wat in 1756 gesterf het. Hierdie tak van die Taft -familie beweer Amerika se eerste vrouekieser, Lydia Taft, en vyf geslagte van Massachusetts -wetgewers en staatsamptenare wat begin met Lydia se man, Josiah Taft. [3]
Die Tafts was baie prominent verteenwoordig as soldate in die Revolusionêre Oorlog, meestal in die state van New England. Peter Rawson Taft I is in 1785 in Uxbridge gebore en het omstreeks 1800 na Townshend, Vermont, verhuis. Hy het 'n wetgewer in die staat van Vermont geword. Hy is dood in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. Sy seun, Alphonso Taft, is gebore in Townshend, Vermont, en studeer aan die Yale Universiteit, waar hy die Skull and Bones -samelewing stig. Hy was later oorlogsekretaris en prokureur -generaal van die Verenigde State en die vader van president William Howard Taft. [4] Elmshade in Massachusetts was die tuiste van Taft -familiereünies, soos in 1874. [5]
Die Amerikaanse Taft -gesin het begin met Robert Taft Sr., wat na 1685 in Braintree, Massachusetts, immigreer het. Daar was vroeë vestiging in Mendon, Massachusetts, omstreeks 1669 en weer in 1680 in wat later Uxbridge was, nadat die oorlog van King Philip's geëindig het. [6] Robert se opstal was in die westelike deel van Mendon, in wat later Uxbridge geword het, en sy seun was op die stigteraad van keurders. In 1734 begin Benjamin Taft 'n ystersmede in Uxbridge, waar 'n paar van die vroegste begin van die Amerikaanse industriële revolusie begin het. Die seun van Robert Sr., Daniel, 'n vrederegter in Mendon, het 'n seun Josiah Taft, later van Uxbridge, [6] wat in 1756 gesterf het. Josiah se weduwee het 'Amerika se eerste vrouekieser' geword, Lydia Chapin Taft, toe sy gestem in drie Uxbridge -stadsvergaderings. [3] President George Washington het Samuel Taft's Tavern in Uxbridge in 1789 besoek tydens sy 'eerste toer' deur New England. [7] President William Howard Taft se oupa, Peter Rawson Taft I, is in 1785 in Uxbridge gebore. [8] The Hon. Bezaleel Taft Sr., die seun van Lydia, het 'n nalatenskap van vyf generasies of meer van openbare diens nagelaat, waaronder minstens drie generasies in die staatswetgewer van Tafts in Massachusetts. [9] [10] [11] [12] Ezra Taft Benson, Sr, 'n beroemde Mormoonse pionier, het tussen 1817–1835 hier gewoon en in 1832 met sy eerste vrou Pamela, van Northbridge, getrou. [13] Hierdie gesin het uiteindelik geword 'n Amerikaanse politieke dinastie.
- Robert Taft Sr. (c. 1640–1725) Die beroemde Taft -familie in Amerika het sy wortels in Mendon en Uxbridge ontwikkel. Robert Taft, Sr, het van Braintree na Amerika gekom. Die oorspronklike Amerikaanse Taft -opstal was in die westelike deel van Mendon, wat later Uxbridge geword het, en is gebou deur Robert Taft Sr., die eerste immigrant, in 1681. [6] Robert Taft Sr. het in 1669 'n vroeëre huis gebou, maar dit is laat vaar as gevolg van King Philip's War. Die afstammelinge van Robert Taft Sr. is 'n groot polities aktiewe gesin met afstammelinge wat prominent in Ohio is, maar regdeur die VSA woon.
- Robert Taft Jr. is in 1674 gebore aan Robert sr., en Sarah Taft in Braintree. Hy het grootgeword in die westelike deel van Mendon in wat later Uxbridge geword het. Hy word 'n stigterslid van die Uxbridge Board of Selectmen in 1727. [14] Robert Taft Jr. was moontlik die eerste Amerikaanse Taft wat 'n politieke amp beklee het. Sy afstammelinge was onder andere 'n goewerneur van Rhode Island, Royal Chapin Taft, 'n Amerikaanse senator van Ohio, Kingsley Arter Taft, en 'n Amerikaanse minister van landbou, Ezra Taft Benson II.
- Lydia Chapin Taft Opvallend onder die vroeë inwoners van Uxbridge was Lydia Chapin Taft, gebore in Mendon, wat in 1756 gestem het in drie amptelike stadsvergaderings in Uxbridge. [3] Sy was die weduwee van die kleinseun van Robert Taft, Josiah Taft, wat gedien in die koloniale wetgewer. Josia was die seun van Daniel Taft van Mendon. Taft was Amerika se eerste vrouestemmer. [3] Dit word erken deur die wetgewer van Massachusetts. Haar eerste historiese stemming, 'n eerste in die stemreg vir vroue, was ten gunste van die bewilliging van fondse vir die regimente wat aan die Franse en Indiese oorlog deelgeneem het.
- Hon. Bezaleel Taft Sr., Lydia se seun, beklee die rang van kaptein in die Amerikaanse Revolusie en beantwoord die Slag van Lexington en Concord Alarm [11] op 18 April 1775, terwyl Lydia kyk. Hy het daarna 'n prominente wetgewer in Massachusetts en senator geword. [9] Minstens 12 soldate met die van Taft het in die rewolusionêre oorlog uit die stad Uxbridge gedien. Baie meer Tafts uit die voormalige kolonies het ook in die Onafhanklikheidsoorlog gedien.
- Hon. Bezaleel Taft Jr., die seun, het 'n wetgewende loopbaan in die Massachusetts -hof, die Senaat en die Uitvoerende Raad van die staat gevolg. [9] - Bezaleel Taft Jr. en vyf generasies van invloedryke Tafts het in 'n historiese huis, bekend as Elmshade, gewoon, wat 'n bymekaarkomplek was vir familieherenigings van Taft, en wat nou op die National Register of Historic Places is. Die jong William Howard Taft en sy pa, Alphonso Taft, oorlogsekretaris en stigter van Skull and Bones in Yale, het hierdie huis verskeie kere besoek.
- George Spring Taft, die seun van Bezaleel Jr., was die landaanklaer en sekretaris van die Amerikaanse senator, George Hoar. [9] George Spring Taft het ook in Elmshade gewoon.
- Die tradisie van staatsdiens het ten minste vyf generasies lank voortgegaan in hierdie Massachusetts -tak van die Taft -familie. Die "Life of Alphonso Taft deur Lewis Alexander Leonard", op Google Books, is 'n besonder ryk bron van die geskiedenis van die Taft -familie in Massachusetts. [4]
- Ander plaaslike Tafts Ander plaaslike Tafts in politieke diens in die wetgewer van Massachusetts het Arthur M. Taft, Arthur Robert Taft en Zadok Arnold Taft ingesluit. Royal Chapin Taft, oorspronklik van Northbridge, het die goewerneur van Rhode Island geword. Die aantal Tafts in staatsdiens regoor Amerika was buitengewoon, waaronder New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio, Michigan, Utah en ander state.
- Eerste president se besoek Samuel Taft was 'n Amerikaanse soldaat van die Revolusionêre Oorlog, pa van 22, 'n boer en tavernewagter in Uxbridge. President George Washington het by die Samuel Taft Tavern in November 1789, tydens die inleidingsreis van die stigter deur New England. [7]
President William Howard Taft se oupa, Peter Rawson Taft I, is in 1785 in Uxbridge gebore en het daar grootgeword. Sy pa Aaron verhuis na Townshend, Vermont, as gevolg van die moeilike ekonomie, toe hy vyftien was. Die verhaal word vertel dat Peter Rawson 'n koei geloop het van Uxbridge na Townshend, 'n afstand van meer as 100 myl. Die "Aaron Taft -huis" is nou op die National Register of Historic Places. Peter Rawson Taft I het 'n wetgewer in Vermont geword en is uiteindelik dood in Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio. [8] [15] Peter Rawson Taft se seun, Alphonso Taft, stig Skull and Bones in Yale, dien as Amerikaanse minister van oorlog, en sy seun William Howard word die Amerikaanse president. Die afkoms van Amerikaanse presidente spoor meer as een keer na Uxbridge en Mendon, insluitend albei presidente met die van Bush. [16] President Taft, 'n kampioen vir wêreldvrede en die enigste president wat ook as hoofregter van die Verenigde State gedien het, keer terug na Uxbridge vir gesinsherenigings. [4] [9] [17] Hy merk op toe hy op 3 April 1905 daar uit die trein stap, "Uxbridge. Ek dink ek het meer familielede hier as in enige stad in Amerika." [9] Jong William Howard Taft het in sy vroeëre jare ander reise na Uxbridge gemaak, en Bezaleel Taft, Jr., se huis, "Elmshade". Dit was by "Elmshade" dat die jong William Howard Taft waarskynlik gehoor het dat sy pa, Alphonso Taft, met trots 'n redenasie lewer oor die Taft -familiegeskiedenis en die wortels van die gesin in Uxbridge, en Mendon, omstreeks 1874. [4] [9] President Taft het gebly by die Samuel Taft -taverne toe hy Uxbridge besoek het, net soos George Washington 120 jaar tevore. [9] [17] Die New York Times President Taft se besoeke aan sy voorvaderhuise in Mendon en Uxbridge tydens sy presidentskap opgeteken. [17] William Howard Taft het as jong seun 'n aantal somers in die Blackstone Valley in Millbury, Massachusetts, deurgebring en selfs vir minstens 'n kwartaal in die nabygeleë stad skole bygewoon.
Ezra T. Benson (om hom te onderskei van sy beroemde agterkleinseun, Ezra Taft Benson), 'n inwoner van Mendon en Uxbridge, is bekend as 'n belangrike vroeë apostel van die Mormoonse godsdiens. Sy eie outobiografie verklaar dat hy tussen 1817-1835, of ongeveer 17 jaar, in Uxbridge gewoon het nadat sy ma, Chloe Taft en pa, John Benson, na 'n plaas daar verhuis het. [18] Young Ezra trou op 1 Januarie 1832 in Uxbridge met Pamela Andrus, van Northbridge. Hy het in 1827 saam met sy gesin in 'n Uxbridge -sentrum ingetrek. Hy en Pamela het in die 1830's hier gewoon, kinders gehad en 'n kind wat gesterf het, wat in die Uxbridge Vital Records opgeteken is. [19] Hy het later die hotel in Uxbridge Center bestuur en besit voordat hy in 'n katoenmeul in Holland, Massachusetts, belê het. Hy verhuis na die Hollandse Mis in 1835. [18] Hy verhuis later na Illinois en word 'n Mormoonse apostel. Ezra het in 1840 by die LDS -kerk in Quincy, Illinois, aangesluit, in meervoudige huwelike getree en met Pamela nog sewe vroue getrou. Hy is in 1846 deur Brigham Young na die Kworum van die Twaalf Apostels geroep, 'n hoë pos in die LDS -kerk. Hy het agt vroue en 32 kinders gehad. [13] Hy was 'n sendeling van die Sandwich -eilande, ook bekend as Hawaii. Hy was 'n verteenwoordiger van die territoriale vergadering van Utah. Hy sterf in Ogden, Utah, in 1869.
Benjamin Taft het in 1734 met die eerste ystersmid in die Ironstone -gedeelte van Uxbridge begin [9] Hier was 'bog -ystererts' van goeie gehalte. Caleb Handy het 'n triphammer bygevoeg, en skelms en gewere is hier voor 1800 vervaardig. Daniel Day in 1810, en sy skoonseun, Luke Taft (1825) en Luke se seun, Moses Taft in (1852). [9] Hierdie wolmeulens, sommige van die eerstes wat kragweefsels en satynpunte gebruik het, het gedurende die burgeroorlog 24/7 hardloop vir die vervaardiging van lap vir Amerikaanse militêre uniforms. [9] Die Rivulet Mill -kompleks uit 1814 is in Noord -Uxbridge deur Chandler Taft gestig. In 1855 is 2,5 miljoen meter lap in die meulens van Uxbridge vervaardig. [20] Uxbridge is die middelpunt van die Blackstone Valley, die vroegste geïndustrialiseerde streek in die Verenigde State. Dit is deel van die John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Samuel Slater, wat sy meule in (1790) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, aan die Blackstone -rivier gebou het, word deur president Andrew Jackson as die vader van die Amerikaanse industriële revolusie beskou.
In 1864 haal regter Henry Chapin, 'n drie-termyn burgemeester en hoofregter van Worcester, 'n bekende Uxbridge-verhaal soos volg aan: 'n Vreemdeling het na die stad gekom, 'n nuwe persoon ontmoet en gesê: "Hallo meneer Taft". Mnr. Taft sê: "Hoe het jy my naam geken?" Die vreemdeling antwoord: "Ek het aangeneem dat jy 'n Taft was, net soos die ander 12 Tafts wat ek pas ontmoet het!". [21] Hierdie verhaal is herhaal in 'n gedigvorm van burgemeester Chapin, tydens 'n beroemde Taft -familiereünie hier, [ waar? ] opgeneem in die Life of Alphonso Taft. [4]
Hoofregter, nie president nie, was die droomwerk van William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft wou nooit regtig president word nie. Politiek was sy vrou se ambisie vir hom, nie sy eie nie. Voordat hy oorlogsekretaris of goewerneur van die Filippyne was, was Taft, 'n intellektuele seun en kleinseun van regters, agt geseënde jare as 'n federale regter vir die appèlhof. "Ek is lief vir regters, en ek is lief vir howe," het president Taft in 'n toespraak in 1911 gesê. Edward D. White van Louisiana, mede -hooggeregshof, in 1910 tot hoofregter bevorder, het hy sy afguns aan sy prokureur -generaal erken. Daar was niks wat ek meer sou liefgehad het as om hoofregter van die Verenigde State te wees nie, het hy gesê.
Jare na sy vernederende derde plek in die presidentsverkiesing van 1912, het Taft uiteindelik sy droomwerk gekry. In Junie 1921 benoem president Warren Harding Taft, 63 jaar oud, om die hooggeregshof te lei. Taft het nege jaar as hoofregter gedien ná sy vier jaar as president, die enigste persoon wat albei werk beklee het. Hy het 'n afsku gehad om president te wees, en#8221 Regter Felix Frankfurter het eens opgemerk, en dat hy hoofregter was, was vir hom geluk. ”
Amerikaners onthou presidente beter as wat hulle die hoofregters onthou, maar Taft was 'n beter regter as uitvoerende gesag, en sy regterlike leierskap het waarskynlik 'n meer blywende stempel op die land gelaat. Aangesien konserwatiewes vandag hoop dat die volgende aanstellings in die Hooggeregshof hulle die mag gee om die Amerikaanse reg te herskep, en die liberale daarna kyk om te kyk na die buitensporigheid wat hulle van die verkiesde president verwag, leef hulle albei in 'n geregtelike wêreld wat Taft geskep het.
Taft was 'n huiwerige president en aanvaar die Republikeinse benoeming in 1908 eers nadat sy vrou, Nellie, en sittende president Theodore Roosevelt hom oorreed het om as sy gekose opvolger te dien. Roosevelt was seker dat Taft, sy vriend en vertroueling, sy progressiewe hervormings sou voortsit. In plaas daarvan, nadat president, hom in lyn gebring het met Republikeinse konserwatiewes en sakemanne, het hy min progressiewe persone aangestel, tariewe verhoog in plaas daarvan om hulle te verlaag, en het hy die vriend van Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, die bosbouer van die land en 'n leidende natuurbewaarder, afgedank. Roosevelt was in 1912 woedend teen Taft as kandidaat van 'n derde party.
Taft, wat nooit gemaklik was as politikus nie, het ná sy herbenoeming byna geen veldtog toesprake gelewer nie, het gereeld gholf gespeel en hom as nederlaag bedank. Hy eindig derde in die presidentsverkiesing, agter die wenner Woodrow Wilson en Roosevelt, wat minder as 25 persent van die algemene stemme en slegs agt verkiesingsstemme behaal. Taft noem sy nederlaag nie net 'n grondverskuiwing nie, maar 'n vloedgolf en holocaust het alles in 'n algemene rampspoed gerol. ”
Verlig en gelukkig om vry te wees van die presidensiële laste, het Taft die volgende agt jaar as professor in staatsreg by Yale deurgebring, toesprake regoor die land gehou, tydens die Eerste Wêreldoorlog op die National War Labor Board gedien en Wilson bygestaan met sy mislukte veldtog om die Verenigde State te oortuig om by die Volkebond aan te sluit. Omdat ek 'n dooie politikus was, het ek 'n staatsman geword, en hy het gesê.
As hoofregter was Taft verheug oor sy omkering van fortuin. Op die bank, skryf joernalis William Allen White, het hy gelyk aan 'n van die hoë gode van die wêreld, 'n glimlaggende Boeddha, rustig, wys, saggeaard, soet. drie myl gestap om by die Hooggeregshof se kamer in die Amerikaanse Capitol -gebou te werk. Binnekort was hy op 260 pond, 'n byna lae vir hom. Hy het selde teruggekyk na sy jare as politikus, behalwe om hulle 'n goeie einde te maak. Die spanning, die kommer, die drang na blote geleentheid om sonder onderbreking te slaap, die gebrekkigheid van een se stembande, en hy herinner hom in 'n simpatieke brief van Oktober 1924 aan John Davis, die Demokratiese kandidaat vir president, &# 8220 die noodsaaklikheid om altyd in 'n goeie humeur te wees, en die plig om te glimlag as 'n mens wil sweer, kom terug na my. ”
As hoofregter het Taft die federale mag meer uitgebrei as tydens sy versigtige termyn in die Withuis. Taft, die president, het 'n noue siening van sy eie magte aangeneem en aarsel om op te tree as die wet of die Grondwet hom nie uitdruklik toestemming gee nie. Maar volgens die belangrikste en blywende mening wat hy as hoofregter geskryf het, in Myers vs U.S., hy handhaaf die president se mag om federale amptenare af te dank sonder die goedkeuring van die Senaat. En regsuitdagings vir sy presidensiële nalatenskap was skaars: slegs een keer het hy homself verwerp oor 'n konflik, toe 'n moordenaar wie se doodsvonnis hy verklein het, om vryheid gedagvaar het.
Dit beteken egter nie dat sy tyd as hoofregter nie by sy presidentskap aansluit nie. Die Taft -hof het die konserwatiewe erfenis wat hy as president ontwikkel het, uitgebrei. Taft het gewoonlik gestem om die beperkings op die regering se mag om ondernemings te reguleer, te handhaaf, veral as hy 'n strafbelasting op ondernemings wat kinderarbeid gebruik het, verlaag het. Daar was uitsonderings: hy het gestem vir die handhawing van 'n Oregon-wet wat 'n maksimum werkdag van tien uur vir vroue geskep het, en hy het afwyk van 'n besluit wat 'n minimum loon vir vroulike werkers verlaag het. Taft, 'n jarelange vyand van vakbonde, het 'n besluit geneem Truax v. Corrigan Dit het die beoordelaars groot ruimte gegee om bevele uit te reik om arbeidsgeskille te stop.
Taft het die verbod gekant voordat dit in 1919 tydens die Wilson -administrasie verloop het, en het gedink dit sou moeilik wees om af te dwing. As hoofregter het hy egter deurgaans die streng handhawing van wette teen drank goedgekeur, selfs al het dit hom in stryd met sy vrou gebring. Op 'n reis na Londen in 1922 het Helen Taft en die Amerikaanse ambassadeur in Engeland bier gedrink, terwyl die hoofregter en die vrou van die ambassadeur vasgebyt het aan klappers, kaas en vrugte.
Die ondersteuning van Taft vir die droë wette van die land het tot sy mees omstrede burgerlike vryheidsbesluit gelei. In 1928 lewer Taft die hof se mening in Olmstead teen U.S., 'n beslissing van 5-4 wat toegelaat het dat onbepaalde afluisters van telefoongesprekke teen verweerders gebruik kan word. Die besluit veroorsaak 'n nasionale herrie – Die vooruitsig, 'n toonaangewende tydskrif van die tyd, noem dit “the Dred Scott besluit van verbod ” - maar Taft verwerp sy kritici in 'n brief aan 'n vriend. As hulle dink dat ons bang sal wees in ons poging om by die wet te bly en die publiek 'n kans te gee om misdadigers te straf, vergis hulle hulle, al word ons veroordeel weens 'n gebrek aan hoë ideale, ” het hy geskryf.
Progressiewe mense vind die Taft-hof frustrerend, sy vyandigheid teenoor wetgewing oor maatskaplike hervorming is tragies. Sedert 1920 het die Hof meer wetgewing ongeldig gemaak as in die vorige vyftig jaar, en Felix Frankfurter, die professor in Harvard en toekomstige hooggeregshof, het in 1930 gekla. Dekades later prys regter Antonin Scalia die hoofregterskap van Taft, alhoewel baie van sy besluite is 'n teenstryd teen die uiteindelike sweep van die geskiedenis. ” Olmstead, byvoorbeeld, is in 1967 omvergewerp, en die beslissings van Taft ’ vir sake en teen regulering en vakbonde is binne jare na sy dood omvergewerp. “Taft, ” Scalia het geskryf, “ het 'n redelike akkurate visie van die komende dinge, ’ hou nie daarvan nie, en het sy bes gedoen met volmaakte vaardigheid, maar uiteindelik 'n gebrek aan sukses, om die uitkoms te verander . ”
Tog het Taft 'n meer volgehoue geregtelike nalatenskap nagelaat: Hy het die mag en aansien van die Hooggeregshof permanent verhoog. Toe hy by die hof aangesluit het, was sy dossier vasgevang in 'n agterstand van tot vyf jaar diep. Taft, wat geen hoofregter voorheen gehad het nie, het die kongres oortuig om die wetsontwerp van 1925 te aanvaar, wat die Hooggeregshof groter beheer oor sy dossier gegee het. Dit het byna alle outomatiese appèlregte na die hof weggeneem, wat die regters op belangrike grondwetlike vrae kon toespits. Taft het die kongres ook oortuig om die bou van 'n hooggeregshofgebou te befonds, sodat die regters uit die sombere Ou Senaatskamer en hul selfs droërerige konferensiekamer in die kelder van die Capitol kan trek. Alhoewel Taft dit nie in 1935 kon sien oopmaak nie, weerspieël die groot gebou sy onafhanklikheid van die ander takke van die regering.
Justisie Sandra Day O ’Connor noem Taft 'n groot hoofregter wat amper soveel krediet verdien as [John] Marshall vir die huidige rol van die hof, maar wat nie gereeld die erkenning ontvang nie. ” Sy het opgemerk dat 84 persent van die menings van die Taft -hof was eenparig 'n weerspieëling van sy pogings om menings te maak wat die nege regters bymekaar gehou het. “ Die meeste meningsverskille, en Taft het gesê, “ is 'n vorm van egoïsme. Hulle doen niks goeds nie, en verswak net die aansien van die hof. ”
Volgens een skatting het Taft ongeveer 200 teenstemme verhinder deur verskillende vorme van oorreding, beide wortels en stokke. In nege jaar het Taft self 249 menings vir die hof geskryf, slegs ongeveer 20 keer verskil en slegs vier geskrewe meningsverskille geskryf. Hy sou gefrustreerd wees om te sien hoeveel menings uit sy era, veral deur liberale regters Louis Brandeis en Oliver Wendell Holmes, in die geskiedenis gevier word. Maar sy doel om eenparigheid aan te dring, merk O ’Connor op, was om die gesag van die hof op te bou as 'n uitlegger van die nasionale beginsel en die rol wat dit vandag nog speel.
Oor Erick Trickey
Erick Trickey is 'n skrywer in Boston wat politiek, geskiedenis, stede, kunste en wetenskap dek. Hy het geskryf vir POLITICO Magazine, Next City, die Boston Globe, Boston Magazine en Cleveland Magazine
Prestasies deur William Howard Taft
Hier is 'n vinnige blik op die top 8 prestasies deur William Howard Taft, die 27ste president van die Verenigde State wat van 4 Maart 1909 tot 4 Maart 1913 gedien het.
Hy was slegs 23 toe hy 'n assistent -aanklaer geword het
Tydens sy regsgeleerdheid was William Howard Taft nie die helderste van hom nie, maar hy het enorme terreine met vasberadenheid en harde werk gedek. , Het William natuurlik die regsberoep binnegedring in die lig van die feit dat sy pa, Alphonso Taft, 'n regter en 'n prokureur -generaal in die kabinet van president Ulysses S. Grant was.
By Yale studeer hy tweede in 'n klas van 121 leerlinge. Na 'n baccalaureus in die regte van die Cincinnati Law School, het William ervaring opgedoen in die werk van sy pa se prokureursfirma, dit was nadat hy die balie -eksamen in Columbus, Ohio, geslaag het.
In 1880, op 23 -jarige ouderdom, het William die pos as assistent -aanklaer in Hamilton County verkry. Hy het ongeveer 'n jaar in die pos gebly voordat hy na sy volgende groot optrede gegaan het.
'N Regopstaande verskaffer van interne inkomste
Ten spyte van die pogings van verskeie hoofde van die Withuis om die buitestelsel te bekamp, was nepotisme en begunstiging steeds gedurende die laaste dekades van die 19de eeu hoog. William Taft se integriteit is getoets toe hy deur meerderes bo hom gevra is om bekwame werknemers onder hom af te dank. Taft is tydens die presidentskap van Chester A. Arthur aangestel as versamelaar van interne inkomste vir die eerste distrik van Ohio.
William Howard Taft bedank eerder as om die voorskrifte van bo af te sien om bekwame werknemers wat met die regerende party uitgeval het, af te dank.
Sesde prokureur -generaal van die Verenigde State
Tussen 1890 en 1892, Taft dien as die sesde prokureur -generaal van die Verenigde State. Die kantoor, wat die eerste keer gestig is tydens die presidentskap van Ulysses S. Grant, vereis dat die houer namens die federale regering argumenteer en sake voor die Amerikaanse hooggeregshof voorlê. Die prokureur -generaal word ook toegelaat om amicus curiae -briefies voor die hof in te dien.
Taft was ten tyde van sy aanstelling op 'n merkwaardige jong ouderdom van 29. Die in Ohio gebore werk baie hard om alle uitstaande sake wat in die kantoor gesit het, uit die weg te ruim. In sy twee jaar lange amp in die kantoor het hy 15 uit 18 sake gewen wat hy voor die hoogste hof van die land voorgelê het.
'N Amerikaanse appèlhof (1892-1900)
Sy roemryke werk by die prokureur -generaal se kantoor trek die aandag van president Benjamin Harrison. In die vroeë lente van 1892 bedank Taft die amp om sy regterlike loopbaan as federale regter te bevorder. Taft was redelik tevrede met die werk en het vinnig die ins en outs van die werk geleer.
Hy was nie so konserwatief soos baie mense dink nie. As federale regter ondersteun hy objektief die vakbonde se reg om vrylik te organiseer en op te roer vir beter werksomstandighede. Veral weens nalatigheid van werkgewers het Taft altyd ten gunste van werknemers beslis. 'N Voorbeeld hiervan was Voight v. Baltimore en Ohio Southwestern Railway Co. (1900), waar 'n werker beseer is.
William Howard Taft het die sosio-ekonomiese lewensbestaan van Filippyne verhoog
Toe president William McKinley op Taft tik om lid te wees van die burgerlike kommissie wat die nuut geannekseerde land van die Filippyne sou bestuur, was Taft baie huiwerig. In alle eerlikheid was Taft nie 'n skerpsinnige politikus nie. Waarin hy die beste gevaar het, was die wet. Desondanks aanvaar Taft die aanbod van McKinley en vaar in April 1900 na die Filippyne om as die eerste goewerneur-generaal van die eiland te dien.
In teenstelling met koloniale bewind, het Taft tydens sy ampstermyn as goewerneur-generaal van die Filippyne baie hard gewerk om die Filippyne gereed te maak vir selfregering. Hy was gekant teen enige mishandeling van Filippyne as ras -minderwaardig as Amerikaners. Hy het programme opgestel in onderwys, gesondheid, landbou en kunste wat die sosio-ekonomiese lewensbestaan van Filippyne verhoog het. Weens sy toewyding aan die Filippyne is 'n aantal plekke in die land na hom vernoem.
Oorlogsekretaris onder president Theodore Roosevelt
Sonder om baie mense te weet, was Taft eintlik een van die mense wat president McKinley aangespoor het om Theodore Roosevelt in die pos van assistent -sekretaris van die vloot aan te stel. The young and upcoming Teddy Roosevelt went on to take the world by storm, becoming a war hero in the Spanish-American War and later Vice President in McKinley’s second term. And upon Teddy becoming the president of the United States after McKinley assassination in 1901, Taft was appointed Secretary of War (42 nd in the nation’s history) in January 1904. Initially, Taft was reluctant to take President Roosevelt’s offer. This was due to his commitment to the people of the Philippines.
As secretary of war, Taft supervised the construction of Panama Canal, which was completed in August 1914. Following Cuba’s request for America’s help in resolving the conflict that was brewing, Taft briefly served as the Provisional Governor of Cuba.
Elected 27th President of the United States
In the lead up to the 1908 U.S. presidential election, Taft was tapped by President Theodore Roosevelt to succeed him in the White House. The two men had a lot in common, and for years, Taft had served Teddy in several troubleshooting capacity.
With the support of Roosevelt, Taft easily won the Democratic Party nomination for the election. In November, 1908, he faced off with William Jennings Bryan. Taft’s campaign was always at odds with the free silver policy of veteran politician Bryan. Taft viewed free silver as a form economic radicalism. The American people backed Taft and voted him into the White House. Taft won 321 electoral votes, compared to Bryan’s 162. He also pulled close to 52% of the popular votes as against Bryan’s 43.04%.
On March 4, 1909, Taft was sworn into the White House as the our nation’s 27 th President.
Taft restructured the State Department
Taft appointed Philander Knox to the Secretary of State Department. Knox was a veteran Attorney General. Taft combined brilliantly with Knox to restructure the State Department. He once stated that the State Department should move from meeting the needs of 1800 to meeting the needs of the 1900s. To accomplish this Taft and Knox rolled out several training programs in the department. The department was also restructured into geographical divisions – Latin American, Western Europe, and the Far East.
He promoted American businesses abroad
Taft also tried to reduce America’s interference in Europe’s affairs. Instead he turned his attention to Latin American and East Asian countries, where he provided financial aid in exchange for diplomatic influence (i.e. the Dollar Diplomacy). All of his efforts were aimed at fulfilling the Monroe Doctrine on the American continent.
Taft also made sure that the diplomats and State Department’s officials had adequate training in order to advance America’s interest through diplomacy and the various consuls in Latin America.
An antitrust crusader against unethical businesses and monopolies
The Taft administration, which was one term by the way, filed over 70 antitrust lawsuits against big businesses in the manufacturing, oil and railway industry. To put into perspective just how staggering that number was Theodore Roosevelt’s close-to-eight year’s administration filed just under 40 cases.
Taft was truly a big opponent trust and big business combinations, using anti-trust legislation to halt businesses from engaging in price fixing and unethical practices that decimated competition in the market. Some of the companies that President Taft and his administration battled in the courts were: John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company the American Tobacco Company and United States Steel.
Taft did win many of those antitrust lawsuits. For example, he was successful in getting Standard Oil divided into seven smaller chunks.
President William Taft made six appointments to the Supreme Court
William Howard Taft’s presidency was not as flamboyant and charismatic as his predecessor’s (President Theodore Roosevelt). Taft was simply good at maintaining and enforcing reforms – things that are not considered fancy to the American public. As a result of this, some of his significant accomplishments have gone under the radar in America’s history.
Did you know that William Taft made six appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court? The only people that have surpassed that number were George Washington and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Again, it must be emphasized that President stayed only four years in the White House.
President Taft appointed Horace H. Lurton of Georgia in 1909 New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes in 1910 promoted Justice Edward Douglass White to the Chief Justice seat in 1910 Willis Van Devanter of Wyoming in 1910 Democrat Joseph R. Lamar of Louisiana and Mahlon Pitney.
Taft also made 13 appointments to the federal courts of appeal 38 to the US district courts and a number of appointments to the United States Commerce Court and the United States Court of Customs Appeals.
10th Chief Justice of the United States
It is unclear when Taft first harbored intentions to become Chief Justice of the nation’s highest court, but it was probably during his time as a student in Cincinnati Law School. Interestingly, Taft turned down nominations on two occasions (in 1902 and 1905) to serve on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court.
After leaving the White House in 1913, Taft went straight back into law, teaching for more than a decade at Yale. So when the nomination for the chief justice of the Supreme Court came knocking at his door in 1921, Taft was more than eager to accept it.
The former president of the United States wanted nothing more than to serve on the bench. After he was nominated by President G. Harding, Taft was confirmed by the Senate, 61 to 4. He was sworn into office on July 11, 1921. He went on to leave a long-lasting mark on the court by streamlining the court’s procedures. He was also involved in modernizing the court’s infrastructure.
Tag: William Howard Taft
Today, we expect presidential candidates to come to us. They speak on the capitol steps, at memorials, and in high school gyms. They shake hands, meet local leaders, and in Indiana at least, make sure they’re seen eating a homemade pie or pork tenderloin of local renown. Beyond these appearances, however, campaign ads, emails, and social media posts bring candidates into our living rooms, our inboxes, and our daily lives.
President Ronald Reagan Eating Peach Cobbler at Mac’s in Mooresville, Indiana, June 19, 1985, photo located in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Justin Clark for his research into Reagan’s visit.
This was not always the case, however. In fact, for much of U.S. history, such active campaigning was seen as power hungry, uncouth, and beneath the dignity of the office. While they didn’t hit the campaign trail, the candidates were still working hard to win over voters with events and promotional material. If we start our story in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1888 and close it twenty years later in Brook, Indiana, we see a sea change in Republican Party campaign tactics. And believe it or not, our modern barrage of presidential politicking owes a lot to the 1908 presidential campaign of William Howard Taft.
Republican Politics from the Front Porch
“Harrison and Morton Campaign Ball,” 1888, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, accessed University Library, IUPUI.
During the 1888 presidential campaign, Hoosier candidate Benjamin Harrison and incumbent President Grover Cleveland mostly stayed home. That’s not to say they weren’t politicking. Harrison ran a “front porch” campaign, speaking to crowds that gathered at his Indianapolis home and the reporters he invited to cover the event. Political organizations produced “posters, political cartoons, speeches, rallies, parades, brass bands, and torchlight demonstrations” in support of their candidates (Miller Center). And while Harrison stayed in Indianapolis, his supporters took the campaign on the road for him with a memorable publicity stunt. Inspired by a gimmick used for his grandfather William Henry Harrison‘s successful 1840 campaign, a Maryland supporter built a steel and canvas ball and rolled it 5,000 miles across the country to Benjamin Harrison’s home. In an attempt to draw comparisons between the two Harrisons, the campaign slogan became, inevitably, “Keep the Ball Rolling.” Harrison won the presidency, losing the popular vote, but carrying the electoral college. During the rematch in 1892, Cleveland declined to campaign out of respect for Harrison’s wife’s illness and Harrison made only a few public appearances. However, the Republican Party only tenuously backed Harrison because of “his failure to resolve three national issues,” and Cleveland won easily in 1892. (more here: Miller Center).
“Photograph of Campaign of 1888 in Front of House,” 1888, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, accessed University Library, IUPUI.
In 1896, the Democrats, with the support of the Populist Party, ran former U.S. Representative William Jennings Bryan for president. (Remember him he’ll be back later). Bryan was a dynamic speaker and hit the campaign trail with enthusiasm, covering 18,000 miles in three months. Still, the Republican candidate and former Governor of Ohio William McKinley stayed home. Having raised four million dollars mainly from business and banking interests, the party organization dumped money into the printing and distribution of campaign pamphlets. Meanwhile, McKinley delivered 350 speeches to 750,000 people – all from his front porch- resulting in his election. McKinley won easily again in 1900, bringing New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt with him to the White House as his vice president. (Miller Center)
Library of Congress Caption: “Theodore Roosevelt, Joseph Cannon, members of the Republican Nomination Committee, and guests in front of Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, N.Y.,” Underwood & Underwood, publisher, c. 1904, August 4, accessed Library of Congress.
After McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt served out McKinley’s presidential term and was the clear choice of the Republican Party to run in 1904. (Roosevelt picked Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks as his running mate.) The Democrats selected New York Supreme Court Judge Alton B. Parker as a safe choice for presidential candidate, appealing to those who opposed TR’s progressive domestic politics and expanding foreign agenda. Parker refrained from campaigning as was the norm, but heavily criticized his opponent in the press. TR made a thirty day tour of Western states after his nomination was announced, but also refrained from actively campaigning for election. By the summer of 1904 he began speaking from his Sagamore Hill front porch at Oyster Bay, New York. Like McKinley, large campaign donations helped TR secure the presidential office. (Miller Center)
Taft V. Bryan: The Game Changer
William Howard Taft doesn’t get a lot of love as a president. He was indecisive, easily railroaded by Congress, and never wanted the office as badly as his wife or TR wanted it for him. However, the strategy crafted by Taft and his advisers to win the 1908 election was brilliant and the fierce showdown of the two major party candidates changed campaigning forever. And for the Republicans, it started just outside tiny Brook, Indiana.
Muncie Evening Press, June 24, 1908, 3, accessed Newspapers.com.
Taft was TR’s handpicked successor to the presidency and thus had the backing of a beloved president and the powerful Republican political machine. He easily won the nomination at the June 1908 Republican National Convention in Chicago. However, Taft had an image problem – one that could lose him the essential votes of farmers, laborers, and African Americans. As an U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, he made several anti-labor decisions. In 1894, Taft had ruled against the railroad workers of the Chicago Pullman Strike. Taft’s Democratic opponent William Jennings Bryan, (remember him?) on the other hand, was a Populist who appealed to laborers and farmers by promising to protect their interest from the Republicans, who were backed by exploitative big business.
During the 1908 campaign, Bryan, now on his third presidential run, again stormed the U.S. like an evangelist, talking directly to the people and criticizing Taft’s anti-labor record. This time, it seemed, the Republican candidate was not going to be able to stay home. Taft needed to defend his record, assure workers that the Republican Party backed their interests, and smile and shake as many hands as possible.
Library of Congress caption:
Mitchell, S.D. (1909) [i.e. 1908] Wm. Howard Taft shaking hands
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. Bryan should really get credit for launching the whistle stop campaigning that became standard practice. He had been touring the country for some time advocating for the silver standard. However, it wasn’t until Taft began actively campaigning on the road – in order to rehabilitate his image and make himself likable to voters, as opposed to simply spreading an educational message – that we get the kind of spectacle politics we recognize today. [Bourdon, 115-6.]
The campaign was strikingly modern in other ways too. Speeches by presidential candidates were traditionally quite long – an hour of expounding on the party platform was not unusual. However, Taft kept it short, speaking for thirty minutes at major events, but sometimes spending only five minutes joking with crowds on train platforms. Bryan, known for lengthy rhetoric, was not to be outdone. He recorded a series of two minute speeches on a wax cylinder for Thomas Edison’s National Phonograph Company. Of course, Taft then had to do the same. Thus, we get the modern sound bite. [Listen here: NPR]
George Ade: Reluctant Republican Ringleader
Meanwhile, in Indiana, the Republican Party was in danger of being torn apart over temperance (prohibition versus local option). Leaders thought that a visit from a national candidate could unify the party at least for long enough to push through a Republican state ticket. Charles S. Hernly, Chairman of Indiana’s State Republican Committee, could see that the base needed a flamboyant event to generate enthusiasm for the Party. Recalling a promising conversation from the previous spring, he formed a plan. It involved George Ade, a native of Newton County, a beloved Indiana author, and a dabbler in local politics.
By this time, Ade had achieved financial success as the writer of clever and observant fictional stories for books and newspapers. He gained fame as the wit behind several popular comedic Broadway plays. Ade was known for using humor and rustic, slangy language and was often compared to Mark Twain. He had done well for himself and wisely trusted his brother William to invest his money in real estate.
“George Ade,” photograph, n.d., Indiana State Library Photograph Collections, accessed Indiana State Library Digital Collections.
In 1902, William secured 417 acres near the small town of Brook for his brother to build a cottage as a writer’s retreat. George named the estate “Hazelden.” By 1904, when he began to stay at Hazelden more regularly, “it had grown into an Elizabethan manor house . . . complete with cow barn, greenhouse, caretaker’s cottage, dance pavilion, several smaller outbuildings, swimming pool, softball diamond, and forty foot water tower,” plus extravagant landscaped gardens. (Indiana Magazine of History)
Town of Brook, “Historic George Ade Home,” http://www.brookindiana.com/historic-george-ade-home/
When Ade awoke at Hazelden the morning of August 20, 1908 and settled in to read the day’s Indianapolis Star, he received somewhat of a shock. The front page headline read, “Ade’s Farm Rally Will be Big Event.” Ade later wrote that he recalled a casual conversation with Chairman Charles Hernly about the possibility of a political picnic. However, they had not had formally planned any kind of function, let alone one that Hernly described to reporters as “the biggest Republican event Indiana will see this campaign.”
Indianapolis Star, August 20, 1908, 1, accessed Newspapers.com.
Hernly had colorfully expounded on the day’s details for reporters. He listed the names of prominent state and national politicians who would likely speak, “all the big guns,” and promised a meal of “roast beef, potatoes, bread and butter and coffee” for the Midwestern farmers who were invited to attend. Hernly emphasized that Ade was “enthusiastic in his support of the Republican ticket,” and the reader assumed, the event to take place at his estate. “The only thing that is bothering Mr. Ade is the fact that it is going to take forty of his best beef cattle to satisfy the hunger of the crowd,” Hernly claimed.
Ade was now in an impossible position. He would have liked to “have headed off the barbecue idea,” but was also an enthusiastic Republican who wanted to help his party. [Indiana Magazine of History] He had served as a visible delegate to the Republican National Convention where Taft was nominated – a fact that made headlines even in the New York Times – and as a member of the notification committee that formally told Taft of his nomination. Ade was a respected figurehead for the party. If he were to refuse to host this now public event, he risked further demoralizing the already troubled Indiana Republican Party. If Hernly meant to force Ade’s hand, it worked. The “biggest Republican rally of the coming campaign” would be held in George Ade’s backyard.
The Taft Special to Ade Station
Through the summer Taft was hanging back, assessing the political climate, trying to determine how best to campaign. By September 1908, however, it was clear that he was going to have to defend his labor record from Bryan’s attacks. Taft needed to align himself with the more progressive agenda of the Republican Party as announced at the June convention. He had also been briefed on the tenuous situation in Indiana and knew he needed to appeal directly to Hoosier farmers if he wanted to win the state. The rally planned at Ade’s farm was an opportunity the candidate could not pass up. Taft accepted the invitation sent to him by Chairman Hernly.
New York Times, September 17, 1908, 3, accessed https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1908/09/17/issue.html
On September 16, the Taft campaign announced the tour itinerary. The candidate would leave Cincinnati the morning of September 23 to travel though Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas over several weeks. Die New York Times berig:
Judge Taft’s first address on his Western speaking tour will be made at Brook, Ind., on Sept. 23. It will be at a big Republican rally on the farm of George Ade, the Hoosier humorist and politician.
Notably, the newspaper reported that Taft would be following the route that William Jennings Bryan had undertaken in his campaign.
The morning of September 23, Taft and his staff boarded a five car train dubbed “The Taft Special” and headed for Indiana. The train stopped briefly in Indianapolis, where Taft shook hands with local politicians and waved to the approximately 200 people gathered to greet him. He joked with the crowd, forgoing a formal speech. The Taft Special stopped again briefly in Lafayette and switched tracks at Sheff before arriving at Ade station just west of Brook. Ade and a welcome committee arrived in a six car caravan to take Taft, staff, and guests to Hazelden.
Library of Congress caption: Crowd to greet Wm. H. Taft, De Witt, Nebraska, 1908,
Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.
As the caravan drove through Brook, a large sign made of evergreen reading “Welcome” framed in marigolds and goldenrod greeted them. “Triumphal arches” also made of evergreen spanned the main street and supported large pictures of Taft and the other Republican candidates. Newspapers around the country described the scene in detail. Die New York Times berig:
All forenoon, from miles around the countryside, buggies, family carryalls, hay racks, and farm vehicles of every description crowded the roads leading to Hazelden, the country home of George Ade. When the candidate, seated in the humorist’s automobile, reached the farm he was driven through a veritable gauntlet of vehicles hitched to telephone poles, fence posts, trees, or anything else calculated to restrain the horses.
Indianapolis News, September 24, 1908, 4, Newspapers.com. Die Indianapolis Nuus described the scene that greeted Taft upon his arrival at Ade’s estate:
Before the arrival of the Taft party there was a concert by the Brook Band and later by the Purdue Military band, followed by short speeches from some of the local statesmen. At noon the Second Regiment Band, of Chicago, gave a great display of daylight Japanese fireworks. When the Taft party appeared in sight down the road, a dozen bombs were hurled in the air — the explosions resembled a salute by a gun squad and the air was filled with smoke as if from a battle.
The spectacle of this political theater was not lost on the Indianapolis Nuus. The newspaper referred to the rally as a clever “stunt” and a “big play” put on by Ade. It continued to draw comparisons between the playwright’s craft and the political event:
The frameup of Ade’s latest act was all that could be desired. It was elaborately staged, and the scenery was all that nature could do for one of the prettiest places in northern Indiana, and the actors were of a pedigree out of the ordinary.
Upon arrival, the official party had lunch in the Ade home while the crowd purchased “full dinner pails,” a reference to the 1900 Republican slogan that appealed to the labor vote and helped William McKinley defeat William Jennings Bryan. At 1:15 p.m., Ade and Taft appeared on the decorated speaker’s platform. Ade introduced the candidate, and Taft officially kicked off his campaign.
Brook Reporter, September 25, 1908, 1, Newspapers.com.
Taft had not only remembered Ade from the notification committee, he was a fan of the writer’s work, “The Sultan of Sulu,” which was set in the Philippines. Taft had presided over the U.S. commission overseeing the new U.S. protectorate of Philippines under McKinley and spent a great deal of time there. National newspapers reported that Taft referred to Ade as “the Indiana Sultan of Sulu” and stated that “the Philippine original had no advantage over Ade.” Then, Taft got down to brass tacks.
He looked out at the faces of the farmers, the constituents that brought him to Indiana, and addressed them directly. He wanted this point to hit home, stating:
I was told if I came here I should have the privilege of meeting 10,000 farmers of the State of Harrison and [former Indiana Governor Oliver P.] Morton, and I seized the opportunity to break my journey to Chicago to look into your faces and to ask you the question whether your experience as farmers with Mr. Bryan and your recollection of his course since 1892 is such as to command him to you as the person into whose hands you wish to put the executive power over the destinies of this nation for four years.
Library of Congress Caption: Taft Crookston, Minn. [Minnesota], Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. In other words, Taft implied: I came here to talk to you directly and honestly, unlike Bryan, who didn’t stop between big cities and doesn’t have your interests in mind. Taft continued to attack Bryan’s record in the House as a supporter of tariff bills that hurt the working man and policies that prevented democratic discussion of amendments to such legislation. And, Taft continued, when these tariffs negatively affected the economy, what did Bryan do to fix it? Taft claimed that Bryan toured around the country advocating for the silver standard and ignored the needs of “the farmers of the country, who were groaning under a very heavy weight of obligations.” Thankfully, Taft continued, Bryan was defeated and gold remained the standard, something that helped the farmers return to prosperity. [More here on gold versus silver standard, if that’s your thing.]
Taft then espoused the progressive policies of the Republican administration that had directly improved farmers’ lives. He especially focused on the administration’s introduction of free rural mail delivery, which helped to connect farmers to new ideas, keep them up-to-date on news, and reduce the feeling of isolation from which many rural people suffered.
Lake County Times, September 24, 1908, 1, Newspapers.com
Taft’s direct appeal to the farmers worked. Die Brook Reporter could scarcely believe that “Mr. Taft would notice a small town like Brook.” The Indianapolis News ran the headline: “Brook Now On The Map, Thanks To George Ade.” In November, Hoosier farmers went to the polls. And while the split in the Indiana Republican Party proved fatal to the state ticket, Hoosiers chose Taft by over 10,000 votes. Taft was inaugurated March 4, 1909 as the twenty-seventh President of the United States.
(Richmond) Palladium-Item, November 4, 1908, 1, accessed Newspapers.com
Taft’s Indiana stop marked a sea change in campaign strategy. At Hazleden, Taft introduced the political tactics into his repertoire that he would hone through the rest of his tour and helped win him the election. He promoted the Republican platform as a progressive agenda that would benefit farmers and laborers. He crafted a likable, jovial, and personable image by speaking casually and humorously with crowds, while still seriously addressing their concerns. He went on the offense against his opponent in a manner the Baltimore Sun called “aggressive,” stopping in many places where Bryan had recently spoken in order to rebut his opponent’s statements. And perhaps, most importantly, he shook hands and flashed that unbeatable Taft smile at as many voters as his schedule would allow. Through sheer spectacle and tenacity, the man who had squashed labor strikes as a judge was now the candidate of the working man. A little support from Teddy didn’t hurt either, but Taft’s tour of the Midwest shaped him as a speaker and directly led to his election. And the 1908 election became the first where the Republican and Democratic candidates campaigned actively – an irreversible break with convention, as we see each election season through social media, a steady stream of ads, and even late night shows. It’s enough to make you nostalgic for the ol’ front porch.
Newspapers on the Rally
“George Ade’s Rally at Hazelden Farm,” Indianapolis Nuus, September 23, 1908, 1 “George Ade As Sultan,” Buffalo Mourning Express and Illustrated Buffalo Express, September 24, 1908, 3 “Brook Now On The Map, Thanks To George Ade,” Indianapolis Nuus, September 24, 1908, 4 “Taft Appeals To Labor,” Baltimore Sun, September 24, 1908, 2 “Taft Defends His Record On Labor,” New York Times, September 24, 1908, 3, accessed TimesMachine “Taft at Brook,” Brook Reporter, September 25, 1908, 1, accessed Newspapers.com.
Sekondêre bronne
Peri E. Arnold, “William Taft,” Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia, https://millercenter.org/president/taft.
Jeffrey Bourdon, “‘Just Call Me Bill:’ William Taft Brings Spectacle Politics to the Midwest,” Studies in Midwestern History 2, no. 10 (October 2016): 113-138, accessed Grand Valley State University.
Howard F. McMains, “The Road to George Ade’s Farm: Origins of Taft’s First Campaign Rally, September, 1908,” Indiana Magazine of History 67, no. 4 (December 1971): 318-334, accessed Indiana University.
Brief History of the Taft Papers
The William H. Taft Papers were acquired by the Library of Congress through deposit, gift, and purchase during the years 1919-2009. When Taft left the White House in 1913, he asked that his War Department and presidential files be sent to him in New Haven, Connecticut, where he would be teaching constitutional law at Yale University and working on writing projects. Taft had a judge&rsquos regard for documentary evidence and had preserved his papers throughout his career. When the Library of Congress solicited his collection in 1919, Taft agreed to place his papers on deposit in the Library&rsquos Manuscript Division. He himself returned to Washington two years later as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Taft made regular additions to his collection between 1919 and 1929 as more material was found in the White House, his home in Washington, and the homes of family members. After his death in 1930, his estate and members of his family continued to deposit material. His children Helen Taft Manning, Robert A. Taft, and Charles P. Taft converted the deposit to a gift in 1952. Additional items were acquired through gift and purchase between 1952 and 2009. Portions of the collection were loaned to Taft&rsquos biographer Henry F. Pringle in the 1930s, and part of the collection was sent to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, for safekeeping during World War II.
A fuller history of the collection was prepared in 1972 for the Index to the William Howard Taft Papers, pp. v-x (PDF and HTML), and was subsequently reproduced in the finding aid. A version of it appears on this website under Articles and Essays.
The Taft White House
Upon taking residence at the White House, the Tafts quickly made changes in its operation, foregoing the leisurely transitions of the past. First Lady Edith Roosevelt's carriage had hardly exited the driveway when Elizabeth Jaffray arrived to assume the role of housekeeper, beginning what became seventeen years of service to four presidents. Although her abrasive, superior attitude turned the 25-member domestic staff (both black and white) against her, she had the full confidence of Mrs. Taft who was determined to end the traditional management of domestic operations by all "gentleman ushers." Since John Adams first occupied the mansion, all stewards and ushers had been men. With Mrs. Taft's blessing, Mrs. Jaffrey also ordered black servants to dine apart from white servants, thus ending an established practice of seating by rank or seniority, and beginning 50 years of racial segregation.
White House hospitality during the Taft administration featured ambitious and varied menus supervised by Mrs. Jaffrey. Formal musicales and state dinners were held on the state floor following tradition, but Mrs. Taft's elaborate parties and dances were held in the garden or on the east and west terraces, in the fashion of those she enjoyed in the Philippines.
One major change occurred to the White House complex during Taft's administration. On Taft's inaugural day, Congress approved $40,000 to double the size of the "temporary" Executive Office Building (later called the West Wing) erected during the Roosevelt administration. Nathan C. Wyeth, a Washington architect, created the first Oval office space for the president and relocated the president's office on a central axis in the building. It was fully oval, like the Blue Room. The Oval Office—as it later came to be known—took shape in the summer of 1909 and was the first new State Room since the house was built in the 1790s. The office was replaced in 1934 by the Oval Office built for Franklin D. Roosevelt in yet another major expansion of the West Wing.
William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States and 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Ohio on September 15, 1857. Young William followed in his father’s footsteps and became a lawyer. He graduated from Yale Law School second in his class, and went on to practice law in Cincinnati. In 1887, he was elected to the Superior Court of Ohio, where he served for several years before becoming a judge in the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Taft loved the law, and had his eye set on an appointment to the United States Supreme Court. However, his wife, Helen, had political aspirations for him, which he would follow, only to return to law once more later in life.
When President McKinley appointed Taft as Chief Civil Administrator in the Philippines in 1900, he accepted and Taft and his wife made the move. He grew to love the people there, and tried to improve their lives by building better infrastructure and giving the people a chance to give their own input on territorial government affairs. In 1904, Taft travelled back to the United States to become Secretary of War at President Roosevelt’s request. Roosevelt decided not to run for re-election in 1908, and instead backed Taft for the Presidency. Taft was very hesitant and disliked the campaigning process, but he ultimately won on a platform to continue Roosevelt’s progressive reforms, defeating Democrat William Jennings Bryant, a populist from Nebraska.
