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Line 120: − + − + − + − + − ==Trivia==+ − * In religious beliefs, Taft was a [[Unitarian]]. He once remarked, "I do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and there are many other of the postulates of the orthodox creed to which I cannot subscribe." + − * He became an honorary member of the Yale Chapter of the [[Acacia Fraternity]] in 1913 (while he was a professor of law at Yale). − − * When asked about his time on the Supreme Court and as President, Chief Justice Taft allegedly remarked, "I don't remember that I ever was President." − * In [[Manila, Philippines|Manila]], [[Philippines]], Taft Avenue is named after him. − * Taft was the last American president to have had [[facial hair]] (in this case, a moustache), [[as of 2007]]. − * Taft was an avid [[baseball]] fan, but contrary to myth he did not create the [[seventh-inning stretch]], which was custom decades earlier. He was, however, the first American president to throw the [[ceremonial first pitch]] at a baseball game, at [[Griffith Stadium]], [[Washington, D.C.]], on April 14, 1910. − * Taft was the first American president to [[golf]] as a [[hobby]]. − * Taft was the first president to occupy the [[Oval Office]] when it was opened in October 1909. − * Taft was the first American president to own a presidential [[automobile]]. He converted the White House stables into a four-car garage in 1909.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/6-27-00askeds.html ''http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/6-27-00askeds.html'']</ref> − * In his youth, Taft allegedly once ate a live frog on either a dare or a bet − * Taft owned a [[Holstein (cattle)|Holstein cow]], [[Pauline Wayne]], which he let graze freely on the White House lawn. Pauline was the last cow to live at the White House. She provided milk for the president and his family.<ref> [http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/holiday/historicalpets1/05-js.html ''http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/holiday/historicalpets1/05-js.html'']</ref> − * Even though the strife during the election of 1912 devastated the once very close friendship between Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, the two reconciled not long before Roosevelt's death. − * The First District Court of Appeals in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], is named after him. − * William Howard Taft Road in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]] is named after him. − * He is one of two presidents buried at Arlington (the other being [[John F. Kennedy]]) and one of four chief justices buried at [[Arlington]] (the others being [[Earl Warren]], [[Warren Burger]], and [[William Rehnquist]]). − * He was the first Chief Justice that did not die in office since [[Oliver Ellsworth]] and was the only Chief Justice ever to have a [[state funeral]]. − * There is a law school named after him in [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], [[California]]: William Howard Taft University.<ref>[http://www.taftu.edu ''http://www.taftu.edu''].</ref> − * In later years, Taft owned a wooden cane that was a gift from Professor of Geology W.S. Foster, from 250,000-year-old wood.<ref>''The Edmonton Journal'', July 10, 1920.</ref> − *While being governor of the Philippines, Taft one day sent a message to [[Washington, D.C.]] that read "Went on a horseride today; feeling good." Secretary of War at the time [[Elihu Root]] sent a reply message that read "How's the horse?"[http://www.cceia.org/resources/transcripts/5029.html] −
William Howard Taft (view source)
Revision as of 18:43, February 17, 2009
, 18:43, February 17, 2009update
Taft was born in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], the third of five children. His mother, Louisa Torrey, was a graduate of [[Mount Holyoke College]]. His father, [[Alphonso Taft]], came to Cincinnati in 1839 to open a law practice. Alphonso Taft was a prominent Republican and served as Secretary of War under President [[Ulysses S. Grant]].
Taft was born in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], the third of five children. His mother, Louisa Torrey, was a graduate of [[Mount Holyoke College]]. His father, [[Alphonso Taft]], came to Cincinnati in 1839 to open a law practice. Alphonso Taft was a prominent Republican and served as Secretary of War under President [[Ulysses S. Grant]].
Taft was brought up in the [[Unitarian]] church and remained a faithful Unitarian his entire life. At age 18, he met his future wife, Helen Herron, in Cincinnati; she and Taft courted while he was away at college. The [[William Howard Taft National Historic Site]] is the Taft boyhood home. The house in which he was born has been restored to its original appearance. It includes four period rooms which reflect the family life during Taft's boyhood. The home also includes second floor exhibits highlighting Taft's life and career, as well as an educational center.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/wiho ''http://www.nps.gov/wiho'']</ref>
Taft was brought up in the [[Unitarian]] church and remained a faithful Unitarian his entire life.<ref> He said, "I do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and there are many other of the postulates of the orthodox creed to which I cannot subscribe." </ref> At age 18, he met his future wife, Helen Herron, in Cincinnati; she and Taft courted while he was away at college. The [[William Howard Taft National Historic Site]] is the Taft boyhood home. The house in which he was born has been restored to its original appearance. It includes four period rooms which reflect the family life during Taft's boyhood. The home also includes second floor exhibits highlighting Taft's life and career, as well as an educational center.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/wiho ''http://www.nps.gov/wiho'']</ref>
===Education===
===Education===
==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
Taft retired as Chief Justice on [[February 3]], [[1930]], because of ill health. He was succeeded by [[Charles Evans Hughes]], whom he had appointed to the Court while President. Taft died of [[heart disease]] on Saturday, [[March 8]], [[1930]]. Three days later, on [[March 11]], he became the first president<ref name=Arlington>{{cite web | title = Biography of William Howard Taft, President of the United States and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court | work = Historical Information | publisher = THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY | url = http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/historical_information/william_taft.html | accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref> to be buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]]. His grave marker was sculpted by [[James Earl Frazer]] out of [[Stony Creek, Connecticut|Stony Creek]] granite.<ref name=Arlington/>
Taft retired as Chief Justice on [[February 3]], [[1930]], because of ill health. He was succeeded by [[Charles Evans Hughes]], whom he had appointed to the Court while President. Taft died of heart disease
==Taft family==
A third generation of the Taft family entered the national political stage in [[1938]]. The former President's oldest son, [[Robert A. Taft|Robert A. Taft I]], was elected to the [[United States Senate]] from Ohio. His other son, [[Charles Phelps Taft II]], served as mayor of [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], from 1955 to 1957. Two more generations of the Taft family later entered politics. The President's grandson, [[Robert Taft Jr.]], served a term as a [[U.S. Senator|Senator]] from Ohio from 1971-1977; the President's great-grandson, [[Bob Taft|Robert A. Taft II]], served as the [[governor of Ohio]] from [[1999]] - [[2007]]. [[William Howard Taft III]] was U.S. [[Ambassador (diplomacy)|ambassador]] to [[Ireland (state)|Ireland]] from 1953 to 1957. [[William Howard Taft IV]], currently in private law practice, was general counsel in the former [[Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] in the 1970s, Deputy Secretary of Defense under [[Casper Weinberger]] and [[Frank Carlucci]] in the 1980s, and and acted as Secretary of Defense during the vacancy of January-March 1989. In addition, he was a high-level official in the [[United States Department of State]] from 2000 to 2006.
A third generation of the Taft family entered the national political stage in 1938. The former President's oldest son, [[Robert Taft]], was elected to the United States Senate from Ohio. His other son, Charles Phelps Taft II, served as mayor of Cincinnati. Two more generations of the Taft family later entered politics. The President's grandson, Robert Taft Jr., served a term as a Senator from Ohio from 1971-1977; the President's great-grandson, Bob Taft, served as the [[governor of Ohio]] from [[1999]] - [[2007]]. [[William Howard Taft III]] was U.S. [[Ambassador (diplomacy)|ambassador]] to [[Ireland (state)|Ireland]] from 1953 to 1957. [[William Howard Taft IV]], currently in private law practice, was general counsel in the former [[Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] in the 1970s, Deputy Secretary of Defense under [[Casper Weinberger]] and [[Frank Carlucci]] in the 1980s, and and acted as Secretary of Defense during the vacancy of January-March 1989. In addition, he was a high-level official in the [[United States Department of State]] from 2000 to 2006.
==
* Taft was severely overweight; legend says he became stuck in the bathtub in the White House several times, prompting the installation of a new bathtub capable of holding all of the men who installed it, something the White House denied until the bathtub was torn out years later. At 6 feet, and weighing over 350 pounds (159 kg), Taft is the heaviest person to be President, although Jefferson, Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Bill Clinton were taller. While being governor of the Philippines, Taft one day sent a message to [[Washington, D.C.]] that read "Went on a horseride today; feeling good." Secretary of War at the time [[Elihu Root]] sent a reply message that read "How's the horse?"<ref. See [http://www.cceia.org/resources/transcripts/5029.html quote]</ref>
* Taft was an avid golfer and also a baseball fan, but contrary to myth he did not create the seventh-inning stretch, which was custom decades earlier. He was, however, the first American president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game, April 14, 1910.
* Taft was severely overweight to the point that he became stuck in the bathtub in the White House several times, prompting the installation of a new bathtub capable of holding all of the men who installed it, something the White House denied until the bathtub was torn out years later. At 6 feet, and weighing over 350 pounds (159 kg), Taft is the heaviest person to be President, although Jefferson, Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Bill Clinton were taller.
* There are William Howard Taft High Schools in San Antonio, Texas, Woodland Hills, California, and the Bronx, New York that are named after him.
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==