1. Chapter 9 The Progressive Era
Section 4
Progressivism under Taft

2. William Howard Taft
1. Taft is the only US President to also join the Supreme Court. He was Chief Justice, the nation’s tenth, from 1921 to 1930.
2. Taft was just shy of six feet tall. During his presidency his weight peaked at about 340 pounds. After leaving office, he lost 80 pounds.
3. Taft’s weight was always an issue. At Yale his nickname was the “Big Lub,” but he was also an accomplished wrestler.
4. He once got stuck in a White House bathtub and had to be pulled out by staff.
5. Two states were admitted to the Union during his presidency: New Mexico and Arizona.
6. He is the first President, and the only President other than JFK, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
7. When Taft lost the presidency to Woodrow Wilson in 1912, it was the worst defeat suffered by an incumbent President. He got only eight electoral votes.
8. In 1900 President McKinley appointed Taft to the governorship of the Philippines.

3. Taft

4. I. Taft Becomes President
Taft Stumbles:
1908, Republican William Howard Taft wins with Roosevelt’s support
Has cautiously progressive agenda; gets little credit for successes

5. The Payne-Aldrich Tariff:
Taft signs Payne-Aldrich Tariff— moderate tariffs
Progressives angry, think he abandoned low tariffs, progressivism

6. Disputing Public Lands:
Conservationists angry Richard A. Ballinger named Secretary of Interior
Ballinger puts reserved lands in public domain
Gifford Pinchot head of U.S. Forest Service
testifies against Ballinger
is fired by Taft

7. II. Republican Party Splits
Problems with the Party:
Republicans split over Taft’s support of House Speaker Joseph Cannon
Cannon weakens progressive agenda; progressives ally with Democrats
1910 midterm elections, Democrats get control of House

8. The Bull Moose Party:
1912 Election: Conservative Republicans nominate Taft to be the Republican candidate (over Roosevelt)
Progressives form the Bull Moose Party (Roosevelt nominated)
Democrats selects Woodrow Wilson (NJ Governor)
Socialist Party selects Eugene V. Debs

9. The candidates of 1912: Eugene V. Debs (Socialist Party), E. W
The candidates of 1912: Eugene V. Debs (Socialist Party), E. W. Chafin (Prohibition Party), Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive Party), William H. Taft (Republican), Woodrow Wilson (Democrat). Miss Columbia hands out the presidency

11. III. Democrats Win in 1912 The Election:
Wilson endorses progressive platform called the New Freedom (wants stronger antitrust laws, banking reform, lower tariffs - calls all monopolies evil)

13. Roosevelt wants oversight of big business; not all monopolies bad
Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs wants to end capitalism
Wilson wins great electoral victory; gets majority in Congress