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William Howard Taft

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William Howard Taft was a man who held two of the highest jobs in the United States.

William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front
William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front

He served as the 27th president from 1909 to 1913. Later, he became the tenth chief justice from 1921 to 1930. He is the only person in history to hold both of these offices. Taft was born on September 15, 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Alphonso Taft, was also a leader in the government.

William Howard Taft National Historic Site
William Howard Taft National Historic Site

His father served as the U.S. Secretary of War and the Attorney General.

Taft grew up to be a very hard worker.

William Howard Taft Yale College BA 1878
William Howard Taft Yale College BA 1878

He went to Yale College and graduated in 1878. While at Yale, he was a popular student and a wrestling champion. After college, he went to Cincinnati Law School. He finished his law degree in 1880. To learn more about the law, he worked for a local newspaper. He also read law in his father's office. These jobs gave him real experience with how laws work in the real world.

His career in the government moved very quickly.

Wm H Taft smiling 1908
Wm H Taft smiling 1908

In 1880, he became an assistant prosecutor in Ohio. Later, he was appointed as a judge in Cincinnati. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison named him the Solicitor General. This job meant he was a top lawyer for the whole country. He worked hard to catch up on many old legal cases. He even started a new policy called "confession of error." This allowed the government to admit when it had made a mistake in court.

Taft became president after winning an election in 1908.

Taft inauguration
Taft inauguration

He defeated William Jennings Bryan to take the office. As president, he focused a lot on East Asia. He also worked on trade laws and how the government deals with other countries. However, his political party had many disagreements during his time. Some members were conservative, while others were progressive. This led to a big split in the Republican Party in 1912. Because of this split, Taft lost the next election to Woodrow Wilson.

1912 Electoral Map
1912 Electoral Map

Even after losing the presidency, Taft reached his big goal.

William Howard Taft as Chief Justice SCOTUS
William Howard Taft as Chief Justice SCOTUS

In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed him as Chief Justice. This was the job Taft had wanted for a long time. He served in this role until he resigned in February 1930. He died one month later. Taft was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the first president and the first Supreme Court justice to be buried there.

Taft funeral LCCN2016820348
Taft funeral LCCN2016820348
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🖼️ Images & Media (27)
File:William Howard Taft Yale College BA 1878.jpg
William Howard Taft Yale College BA 1878.jpg
File:President Taft and the Sultan of Sulu (1913).png
President Taft and the Sultan of Sulu (1913).png
File:Taft crown prince.jpeg
Taft crown prince.jpeg
File:Wm H Taft smiling 1908.jpg
Wm H Taft smiling 1908.jpg
File:1908RepublicanPoster.png
1908RepublicanPoster.png
File:ElectoralCollege1908.svg
ElectoralCollege1908.svg
File:Taft inauguration.jpg
Taft inauguration.jpg
File:William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front.jpg
William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders...
File:JackCanuckOYes.jpg
JackCanuckOYes.jpg
File:Presidents_Taft_and_Diaz,_Oct._1909.jpg
Presidents_Taft_and_Diaz,_Oct._1909.jpg
File:Taft at Todd's Head.jpg
Taft at Todd's Head.jpg
File:Anders L. Zorn - William Howard Taft - Google Art Project.jpg
Anders L. Zorn - William Howard Taft -...

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