WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

27th President of the US 1909-1913

Buschistory Presents – The Presidentswww.buschistory.net

The Election• 1.President: William Howard Taft Number 27 VP - James Sherman

 • 2. Political Party - Republican

 • 3. Term of Office 1909-1913

 • 4. Who came before and after him, and what were their Political parties? • Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) preceded him and Woodrow

Wilson (Democrat ) followed him

• 5. Were there any unusual circumstances surrounding his ascent to the

presidency? If so, describe the situation in specific detail.• TR personally anointed Taft as his chosen successor. William

Jennings Bryan ran against him claiming that TR and Taft had taken Democratic ideals as their own

 • Electoral College – Taft 321, Bryan 162

The Office• 6. Are there any catch phrases or terms specifically

associated with this president? If so, list and explain them. Dollar Diplomacy

 • 7. When he left office, was it by: choice, defeat, natural

death, assassination, or resignation. Explain your answer.

• Defeat. The 1912 election saw a divided Republican party with Theodore Roosevelt running as an independent when the Republicans failed to nominate him. The divided Republican voters allowed Woodrow Wilson to obtain a majority of the Electors.

 

Domestic Issues and Events• Continued Anti-Trust activities – dismantled

American Tobacco Co. and Standard Oil

• 1909 – Payne Aldrich Tariff – Lowered the tariff form 46 to 41 percent but placed higher tariffs on coal, iron ore, and some animal products. Very unpopular

• 1910 – Mann Elkins Act – Fed. Will fix railroad rates, regulated telephone and telegraph companies; Mann Act –Forbade transporting women across state lines for prostitution

• 1913 - Webb-Kenyon Interstate Liquor Shipments Act, 16th Amendment (Income Tax)

• States Admitted – New Mexico, Arizona – both in 1912

Foreign Policy and Events

• Dollar Diplomacy – 1909-1913: American Investment into nations around the world in return for favorable trade conditions.