Early Life and Judicial Career

William Howard Taft was born into a prominent Cincinnati family with a tradition of public service. His father, Alphonso Taft, served as Secretary of War and Attorney General under President Grant. Young William graduated second in his class from Yale in 1878 and earned his law degree from Cincinnati Law School in 1880. Unlike most politicians, Taft's passion was the law, not politics, and he aspired to serve on the Supreme Court from an early age.

Taft's early career focused on the judiciary. He served as a judge on the Ohio Superior Court and was appointed U.S. Solicitor General in 1890. In 1892, at age 34, he was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where he served for eight years. These were among the happiest years of his life, as he was doing what he loved most—interpreting and applying the law.

Governor-General of the Philippines

In 1900, President McKinley asked Taft to serve as president of the Philippine Commission, tasked with establishing civil government in the islands recently acquired from Spain. Though reluctant to leave the bench, Taft accepted out of duty. In 1901, he became the first civilian Governor-General of the Philippines, serving until 1904. Taft genuinely cared for the Filipino people, whom he called his "little brown brothers," though this paternalistic attitude reflected the racial attitudes of his era.

As Governor-General, Taft worked to improve infrastructure, establish a legal system, expand education, and prepare the Philippines for eventual self-government. He resisted pressure from American business interests to exploit the islands and built schools and roads instead. When offered appointment to the Supreme Court twice during this period, he declined, feeling duty-bound to complete his work in the Philippines. This sacrifice demonstrated his commitment to public service over personal ambition.

Secretary of War and Roosevelt's Chosen Successor

Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War in 1904, and he became Roosevelt's closest advisor and troubleshooter. Taft supervised construction of the Panama Canal, acted as provisional governor of Cuba during a crisis, and conducted sensitive diplomatic missions. Roosevelt groomed Taft as his successor, believing he would continue progressive policies. With Roosevelt's enthusiastic support, Taft won the Republican nomination and the 1908 election, defeating William Jennings Bryan in his third and final presidential campaign.

A Presidency Caught Between Factions

Taft entered the presidency with high expectations but faced immediate challenges. His judicial temperament and cautious personality contrasted sharply with Roosevelt's dynamism. More significantly, he was caught between conservative and progressive wings of the Republican Party. His instinct for caution and respect for congressional prerogatives led him to work with conservative Republican leaders, disappointing progressives who expected him to be Roosevelt's energetic heir.

The Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909 became Taft's first major political crisis. Progressives wanted significant tariff reductions, but the final bill made only modest cuts and actually raised some rates. Taft signed it and called it "the best tariff bill that the Republican Party ever passed," enraging progressives who felt betrayed. His political tone-deafness damaged his relationship with progressive Republicans and made him appear to side with conservative interests.

The Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy

The split with progressives deepened over conservation policy. When Interior Secretary Richard Ballinger opened some public lands to commercial development, Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot—a close Roosevelt ally—accused him of betraying conservation principles. Pinchot publicly criticized Ballinger and, by extension, Taft's administration. Taft, believing in administrative hierarchy and proper procedure, fired Pinchot for insubordination.

Though subsequent investigation cleared Ballinger of wrongdoing, the controversy severely damaged Taft politically. Conservationists viewed Pinchot's firing as evidence that Taft had abandoned Roosevelt's conservation legacy. In reality, Taft protected more land than Roosevelt, but he did so through proper legal channels rather than aggressive executive action, and he received little credit for it.

Progressive Achievements

Despite his conservative image, Taft's actual record included significant progressive achievements. His administration filed 90 antitrust suits—nearly twice as many as Roosevelt—including cases against Standard Oil and American Tobacco that resulted in their breakup. He supported the Sixteenth Amendment establishing the income tax and the Seventeenth Amendment providing for direct election of senators. He created the Children's Bureau, established postal savings banks, and expanded civil service protections.

Taft also made important contributions to government efficiency. He submitted the first presidential budget to Congress and established the Commission on Economy and Efficiency to study government organization. These efforts laid groundwork for modern presidential budgetary authority, though they bore fruit after his presidency.

The Split with Roosevelt and the 1912 Election

The relationship between Taft and Roosevelt deteriorated after Roosevelt returned from his African safari in 1910. Roosevelt was shocked by how conservatives had captured the party and blamed Taft for abandoning progressive principles. Personal hurt compounded political differences—both men felt betrayed by someone they had considered a close friend.

Roosevelt challenged Taft for the Republican nomination in 1912. Though Roosevelt won most of the new presidential primaries, Taft controlled the party machinery and won the nomination at a contentious convention. Roosevelt's supporters walked out and formed the Progressive "Bull Moose" Party with Roosevelt as their candidate. The Republican split guaranteed victory for Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Taft won only eight electoral votes, the worst performance ever by an incumbent president, while Roosevelt finished second and Wilson won easily.

Chief Justice: Taft's Dream Fulfilled

Taft's defeat crushed him personally, but he was never comfortable as president anyway. He taught law at Yale and worked for world peace through the League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, President Harding appointed him Chief Justice of the United States, fulfilling his lifelong dream. Taft declared it the position he was "best fitted to fill," and he was happier in these years than at any time since his appellate court days.

As Chief Justice from 1921 to 1930, Taft proved highly effective. He improved Supreme Court efficiency, successfully lobbied Congress for the Supreme Court building (completed after his death), and wrote important opinions expanding federal regulatory power. He also administered the oath of office to both presidents who succeeded him—Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. Health problems forced his resignation in February 1930, and he died a month later. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, the only president interred there besides John F. Kennedy.

Only President and Chief Justice

William Howard Taft remains the only person to have served as both President and Chief Justice of the United States, making him unique in American constitutional history. While his presidency was troubled, his service as Chief Justice was distinguished and professionally satisfying. He considered his judicial service his greatest contribution and was far happier interpreting law than making political decisions.

Progressive Achievements Overshadowed

History has not been entirely fair to Taft. Caught between Roosevelt's progressive wing and the Republican old guard, he satisfied neither, yet his actual record was more progressive than his reputation suggests. His 90 antitrust prosecutions exceeded Roosevelt's, and he supported constitutional amendments for income tax and direct election of senators. His problem was less his policies than his political ineptitude and inability to communicate his achievements effectively.

The 1912 Split and Republican Party

The Roosevelt-Taft split in 1912 had profound consequences for American politics. It elected Woodrow Wilson and gave Democrats control of the White House for eight years, during which Wilson enacted much of the progressive agenda. The split also demonstrated the growing divide between conservative and progressive Republicans, a tension that would shape the party for decades. The personal bitterness between Roosevelt and Taft deeply hurt both men, though they eventually reconciled shortly before Roosevelt's death in 1919.

Judicial Legacy

Taft's most enduring legacy may be his work as Chief Justice. He modernized the Supreme Court's operations, successfully lobbied for the Supreme Court building, and strengthened the federal judiciary. His opinions expanded federal regulatory power and established important precedents in administrative law. He demonstrated that a president who struggles politically may excel in a different role more suited to their temperament and talents.