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Birth
William Howard Taft was born September 15, 1857 in Cincinnati,Ohio -
Family
William's father's name was Alphonso Taft and he was a prominent republican attorney.
His mother’s name was Louisa Maria Torrey Taft and she created different clubs.
He had 4 brothers, their names were Charles Phelps Taft, Henry Waters Taft, Horace Dutton Taft, and Peter Rawson Taft || -
Schooling
For high school he went to Woodward in 1874.
During Taft's college years, he attended Yale University for 2 years, then University of Cincinnati college of law. -
Employment
After all his college years he became a Cincinnati lawyer and soon had political posts as assistant prosecuting attorney for Hamilton co. 1881-1883, then an assistant county solicitor 1885-1887. -
MIddle Ages
Taft married Helen Herron Taft and had 3 children 2 sons and 1 daughter their names are Robert A. Taft,Charles P. Taft||, and Helen Taft. -
Presidency
Taft was put into office on March 4, 1909.
He was president for one term which is 4 years.
William was in the Republican Party.
His vice president was James S. Sherman.
He passed the 16th amendment that required citizens to pay income tax.
Like Roosevelt he prosecuted big trust corporation.
He won victories against the American Tobacco co. and the Standard oil co.
He also admitted New Mexico and Arizona into the union. -
Politics
Taft made it a priority to restructure the State Department, noting, "it is organized on the basis of the needs of the government in 1800 instead of 1900." The Department was for the first time organized into geographical divisions, including desks for the Far East, Latin America and Western Europe. The department's first in-service training program was established, and appointees spent a month in Washington before going to their posts. -
After Presidency
Taft's term was over in 1913.
After his presidency, he lived in New Haven, Connecticut.
He taught at Yale University Law School until Warren G. Harding appointed him Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court -
Death
William Howard Taft died on March 8, 1930. He passed away in Washington D.C. because of complications with heart disease, high blood pressure, and inflammation of the bladder. -
Legacy
William Howard Taft Will be remembered by his challenging task of living up to Theodore Roosevelt's legacy. Taft was a warmhearted and kind man who wanted to be loved as a person and to be respected for his judicial temperament. It was his temperament, moreover, that caused most of his problems as a political leader. -
Fun Facts!
He was tone deaf so whenever the national anthem was played he had to be nudged.
Taft was the first president to throw the first pitch in baseball.
Standing at 332 lbs William H. Taft is the most obese president to ever live.
He once got stuck in the white house bathtub and soon a bigger bathtub was installed to fit four people.
His cow’s name was Pauline Wayne.
William H. Taft’s nicknames are “Big Bill” and “Big Lub”.
