William Howard Taft
Before the presidency ****Had goals to become supreme court judge**** Wife had different ambitions Was chief civil administrator in the Philippines Built roads and schools Theodore Roosevelt made Taft the secretary of war.
Election of 1908 **** Theodore Roosevelt handpicked Taft to be his successor**** Ran against William Jennings Bryan “vote for Taft now vote for Bryan anytime” Taft said it was the most uncomfortable 4 months of his life
Taft’s Policies Was suppose to be progressive like Theodore Roosevelt Signed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Compromise for the Payne Bill and the Aldrich Bill Angered progressives who thought Taft had abandoned progressivism Appointed Richard A Ballinger who removed 1 million acres of reserved land Again this angered progressives
Election of 1912 Candidates William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Republican Woodrow Wilson Democrat Theodore Roosevelt Progressive (Bull Moose) Party Eugene V. Debs Socialist