The Peabody Award‑winning series profiling the men who have served as chief executive of the United States.

William Howard TaftView Program

27th President - William Howard Taft
Born: September 15, 1857
Died: March 8, 1930

  • Personal
  • First Lady: Hellen "Nellie" Herron Taft
  • Children: 3
  • Education Level: Graduate
  • School Attended: Yale University, University of Cincinnati
  • Profession: Lawyer, Reporter, Professor, Dean of University of Cincinnati Law School
  • Public Service
  • Dates of Presidency: March 4, 1909 - March 3, 1913
  • # of Terms: 1
  • Vice President: James Sherman
  • Party: Republican
  • Cabinet Service: Secretary of War (Theodore Roosevelt, 1904-1908)
  • Other Offices: Commissioner of the Philippines; Governor-General of the Philippines; Chief Justice of the United States (1921-1930)
  • Did You Know?
  • He was the first president appointed to the Supreme Court after his presidency.
  • He is one of two presidents buried in Arlington Cemetery (See John F. Kennedy).
  • He was the first president to have a presidential car.
  • Although Taft was the most portly president, he was considered a good dancer, a good tennis player and an average golfer.
  • Did You Know?
  • He was the first president appointed to the Supreme Court after his presidency.
  • He is one of two presidents buried in Arlington Cemetery (See John F. Kennedy).
  • He was the first president to have a presidential car.
  • Although Taft was the most portly president, he was considered a good dancer, a good tennis player and an average golfer.
  • He was known for his affable, malleable nature.
  • His wife, Helen Herron, was the first First Lady to ride with her husband to his inauguration.
  • Mrs. Taft arranged for the planting of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees and personally planted the first two saplings with the wife of the Japanese ambassador.
  • "Don't sit up nights thinking about making me President for that will never come and I have no ambition in that direction. Any party which would nominate me would make me a great mistake."
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About This Series

The Peabody Award-winning series profiles the men who have served as chief executive of the United States. This website, created as a companion to C-SPAN's 20th anniversary television series, provides an in-depth look at each of the presidents, their lives, families and administrations.