Happy B-Day Mr. President (& Supreme Court Justice) –TAFT !!
This September 15th — NYLI sends Birthday greetings to the only (so far!) U.S. President to also serve on the Supreme Court. Born in 1857 to a prominent Cincinnati family, Taft returned to his native Ohio after Yale L.S. and rose in politics through a series of judiciary appointments. Appointed U.S. solicitor general when Taft was only 32. Two years later, he became a Federal Court justice at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ….
Historians often classify Taft as an able administrator but a very reluctant politician. Unlike his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt, Taft disliked campaigning and stated that the leadup to his 1908 Election as “one of the most uncomfortable four months of my life.” A moderate in personality and political views, Taft alienated the Progressives by supporting high tariffs and by firing ardent conservationist Pinchot. Despite initiating twice as many antitrust suits (80!) as his predecessor, setting up a postal savings system, and having the ICC directed to set Railroad rates — Taft was never accepted by the liberal/progressive wing of his party. In 1912, the Republicans split and with the charismatic Roosevelt running as a third party candidate, Democrat Wilson’s election was assured.
- Successfully persuaded Congress to pass the Judiciary Act of 1925, which ensured the Supreme Court greater control over its own docket by eliminating many mandatory jurisdiction cases.
- Taft successfully lobbied Congress for funds to build a new Supreme Court building. The Supreme Court met in the basement of the Capital building and later convened in the Old Senate Building. The current Supreme Court Building was completed in 1935, five years after Taft’s death.
Unique among all former Presidents, Taft may have had a greater career after leaving the White House. He certainly was happier as a Supreme Court Justice than as Chief Executive!
