William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was an American politician, the 27th President of the United States, and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. He was the only person in history to have led both the Executive and Judicial branches of the United States government, and the last President to hold public office after his term ended. A Republican, Taft served as Secretary of War, federal judge for the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Governor-General of the Philippines before being nominated for president in the 1908 Republican National Convention with the backing of his predecessor and close friend Theodore Roosevelt.

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September 15 - 1857 - March 8 - 1930 - American politician - President of the United States - Chief Justice of the United States - Republican - Secretary of War - Federal judge - Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals - Governor-General of the Philippines - 1908 Republican National Convention - Theodore Roosevelt

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Taft defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election, and during his presidency prosecuted the trusts, strengthened the Interstate Commerce Commission, expanded the civil service, and established a better postal system. Two constitutional amendments were passed during his term: the 16th Amendment, authorizing a federal income tax, and the 17th Amendment, mandating the direct election of senators by the people instead of by the state legislatures (see below). Taft was the first president to occupy the Oval Office when it was opened in October 1909.

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Democrat - William Jennings Bryan - Presidential election - Trusts - Interstate Commerce Commission - Civil service - Postal system - Constitutional amendments - 16th Amendment - Income tax - 17th Amendment - Direct election - Senators - State legislature - Oval Office - October - 1909

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Taft later broke off contact with Roosevelt in one of the most well-publicized political feuds of the 20th century. In the 1912 election, Taft lost his bid for a second term; Roosevelt ran on his newly formed Progressive Party ("Bull Moose") ticket, splitting the Republican vote and resulting in the election of Woodrow Wilson. Taft later became Chief Justice, becoming the only President to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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20th century - 1912 election - Progressive Party - Splitting - Woodrow Wilson - Chief Justice - U.S. Supreme Court

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