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William Howard Taft

Born September 15, 1857 in Cincinnati OH. His father was a successful lawyer and figure in the [us:rep]. Taft graduated from [ct:yaleuniv] in 1878, studied law, and was admitted to the Ohio bar.

In 1886, he married Helen Herron. The Tafts had three children, including Senator Robert A. Taft. He was appointed a judge of the sixth circuit of the federal Circuit Court of Appeals by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892. In 1900, President William McKinley sent Taft to the Philippines, where he became the first civil governor of the islands. In 1904, Theodore Roosevelt appointed him secretary of war. Roosevelt was pleased with Taft and gained the 1908 Republican nomination for him. Taft won the election. He had problems with Congress. He antagonized liberal Republicans with his positions on tariffs and other issues. When he ran again in 1912, he was opposed by Theodore Roosevelt of the Bull Moose Party as well as Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who won.

In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed him chief justice of the Supreme Court, where he served until 1930, the year of his death.