William Howard Taft
Josiah Plum
Before becoming president.
After he graduated from Yale he started to study law. He climbed in politics through Republican judiciary appointments. He was picked to become Federal Circuit Judge at the age of 34. President McKinley sent him to the Philippines in 1900 as Chief Civil Administrator. While he was there he built roads and schools and gave the people a say in the government. He was made Secretary of War and in 1907 he was nominated by the Republican convention. William did not like his campaign, he said and I quote, “One of the most uncomfortable four months of my life.” One of Taft’s views was that you should not stretch presidential powers.
http://millercenter.org/president/biography/taft-life-in-brief
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/williamhowardtaft
while president
When Taft became president his first act was to try and get lower tariffs. Taft failed when he tried to do this. He moved on to trying to break U.S. Steel. He also forced Roosevelt's forestry chief to resign. In foreign affairs Taft resumed Roosevelt’s goal of expanding the us foreign trade. In 1912 the Republicans renominated taft, but Roosevelt helped the party lead the progressives, which guaranteed the election of Woodrow Wilson.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/williamhowardtaft
http://millercenter.org/president/biography/taft-life-in-brief
Fun Facts about Taft
- He was the only person to serve as president and Chief Justice.
- He was the last president to have facial hair
- He wanted to be on the supreme court more than he wanted to be president.
- His nickname was Big Bill
- He worked briefly as a part - time reporter.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/58914/15-wonderful-william-howard-taft-facts