William H. Taft
A Big Ball of Humor
Early Life
one of six children of Louisa Maria Torrey and Alphonso Taft. Many Taft ancestors, who could be traced back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, had gone into law, including William's father, Alphonso Taft. Alphonso Taft had served under President Ulysses S. Grant as both secretary of war and attorney general, and as an ambassador under President Chester A. Arthur.
William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States, fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court, becoming the only person to have served as both a U.S. chief justice and president.
"No tendency is quite so strong in human nature as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people."
– William Howard Taft
Dreams, Goals, and Aspirations ...
"Don't write so that you can be understood, write so that you can't be misunderstood."
– William Howard Taft
The Presidency
raised national revenue more than 13 million
shirt sleeve diplomacy
open door policy
dollar diplomacy
"A government is for the benefit of all the people."
– William Howard Taft
The Ending
"I don't remember that I ever was president."
– William Howard Taft
Fun Facts
Came from a political family
didn't want to become president