William Howard Taft Section 9.4 “Vote for Taft this time, You can vote for Bryan any time.” -Presidential campaign slogan 1908

Taft in Politics Handpicked by Teddy Roosevelt Did not end up being popular Said he did not feel like a president Cautious president- did not expand Roosevelt’s reforms Little credit for his accomplishments: Busted 90 trusts in a four year term Could not: Subdue his troublesome party members Or, unlike Roosevelt, use the presidential bully pulpit to arouse public opinion

Election of 1908 TR anoints Taft as successor Taft (Republican) v. Bryan (Democrat) Voters endorse status quo: Taft wins 321 to 162

Postcard with Taft cartoon This postcard depicts how President Theodore Roosevelt, in command of the Republican Party, persuaded his friend William Howard Taft to run for president in Taft was not eager for that office, but Roosevelt succeeded in convincing him to seek it. With Roosevelt's strong support, Taft was elected, but he proved a disappointment to Roosevelt. (Collection of Janice L. and David J. Frent)

The Payne-Aldrich Tariff The House passed the Payne Bill, which lowered rates on imported manufactured goods. The Senate proposed the Aldrich Bill, which made fewer cuts and increased many rates. A compromise that only moderated the high rates of the Aldrich Tariff- Taft received backlash from his own party.

Republican Party Platform (Taft) High import tariffs. Put limitations on female and child labor. Workman’s Compensation Laws. Against initiative, referendum, and recall. Against “bad” trusts. Creation of a Federal Trade Commission. Stay on the gold standard. Conservation of natural resources because they are finite.

Bull Moose Party Women’s suffrage. Graduated income tax. Inheritance tax for the rich. Lower tariffs. Limits on campaign spending. Currency reform. Minimum wage laws. Abolition of child labor. Workmen’s compensation.

Democratic Party Platform Government control of the monopolies  trusts in general were bad  eliminate them!! Tariff reduction. One-term President. Direct election of Senators. Create a Department of Labor. Strengthen the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Did NOT support women’s suffrage. Opposed to a central bank. NewFreedomNewFreedomNewFreedomNewFreedom

Woodrow Wilson Only 2 nd Democratic President since 1861 Family ties with the South Academic Idealistic (hard to compromise – a problem later) Governor of NJ President of Princeton

Democrats Win in 1912! Roosevelt looses Republican nomination Roosevelt seizes Progressive Republican League from La Follette. Becomes “Bull Moose” Party Democrats nominate Woodrow Wilson Wilson elected by significant margin, but still as a MINORITY president

1912 buttons: Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson Roosevelt and his running mate, Hiram Johnson, the governor of California, are pictured with the Bull Moose that came to symbolize the Progressive Party after Roosevelt exclaimed that he felt as fit as a bull moose. Taft, the Republican candidate, and Wilson, the Democrat, are depicted with more traditional symbols of patriotism and party. (Collection of Janice L. and David J. Frent)

Using satire to depict presidents and presidential hopefuls is an American tradition. In the comic monologue My Policies (1915), Aaron Hoffman pokes fun at the political and personal style of Theodore Roosevelt: But you must admit that the Bull Moose Party during its short but eventful life served this country well. If it wasn't for us and mostly me—you wouldn't have Woodrow Wilson as your president to-day. Suppose I hadn't taken the stand I did in Chicago! Where would we be now? I had no feeling against Mr. Taft. He's a brilliant man—honorable—the highest type of intellectual American but he had one unpardonable fault—he wouldn't do a damn thing I said. I discovered the Bull Moose Party. I alone discovered the Moose— and it would have been a great party if the people hadn't discovered the Bull… My Policies, American Variety Stage, Aaron Hoffman [with added material by Lew Dockstader] SOURCE:

Wilson and Taft Having just squared off in the 1912 election campaign, the two politicians share a light moment before Wilson's inauguration on March 4, (Library of Congress)

Election of 1912 The presidential election of 1912 was complicated by the campaign of former president Theodore Roosevelt running as a Progressive. Roosevelt's campaign split the usual Republican vote without taking away much of the usual Democratic vote. Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic candidate, carried many parts of the West and Northeast that Democratic candidates rarely won.

Actual 1912 Ballot

Wilson’s Agenda Delivers presidential address to Congress in person – a 1st Sixteenth Amendment – graduated income tax Tariffs: Underwood Tariff Bill- reduced tariff rates for the first time since the Civil War. Banking: Federal Reserve Act- 12 districts; each district with regional bank (served other banks in the district.) Could issue new paper currency, make loans, and transfer money to banks in trouble. Trust-Busting: Federal Trade Commission Act of investigate violations, require reports from corporations, and put and end a number of unfair business practices. Labor: Clayton Anti-Trust Act of prohibited corporations from acquiring stock of another if doing so would create a monopoly. Labor unions no longer subject to anti trust laws.

The Unanswerable Argument for Suffrage Carrie Chapman Catt- successor of Susan B. Anthony; president of NAWSA , 1915 New York’s Woman’s Suffrage Party: Organization Close ties: local, state, national Establishing support Lobbying Ladylike behavior Alice Paul- radical organization; National Woman’s Party round the clock picket line at the White House; Hunger Strike Nineteenth Amendment- Women gain the right to vote