Taft – History – Flashcards

Just like the former president Teddy Roosevelt president Taft was given a "mascot" His was an opossum named billy "We love 'BILLY POSSUM' His coat is so warm If even we EAT him He'll do us no harm: No more Teddy Bear Will we fondle with glee, Billy Possum in future Our 'Mascot' shall be."

The political cartoon is of Tedddy and Taft shaking hands as Taft walks towards the Capital Dome for the start of his administration

He was Secretary of War before he was handpicked by former president Roosevelt to run against William Jennings Bryan with the slogan "vote for Taft this time, you can vote for Bryan anytime" They easily won against the democrat who was running for the third time. (The Americans Reconstruction to the 21st Century)

Taft and Roosevelt met in 1890 when Taft's family moved to Washington where he became the solicitor general during the Benjamin Harrison administration. He met Roosevelt when they became lunch partners while Teddy was a civil service commissioner

Throughout Tafts political career Roosevelt pushed him to be in several positions, including head of the War department. Roosevelt had wanted someone he could trust in the cabinet. This also allowed Taft to be the supervisor for the construction of the Panama Canal and to help with the strained relationship the U.S had with the Japanese

Tafts nomination, even though he won by a landslide, was still criticized. Some suggested that TAFT stood for "take advice from Theodore." (William Howard Taft) The political cartoon represents the power Roosevelt had over Taft

As a man of moderate views and a judicial temperament, he was an unlikely successor to the intemperate Roosevelt; it would have taken a far different personality to withstand such a comparison. Taft could have been regarded as a progressive leader in another time, but such was not his lot. (William Howard Taft)

Because of the constant comparison between Roosevelt and Taft, not many people appreciated, or even realized, how much he had accomplished during his short presidency. "Taft brought 90 lawsuits against the trusts during his 4 years in office as opposed to Roosevelt who brought just 44 suits in 7 years." ("Chapter 29: Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt | APNotes.net")

Taft's domestic policy featured active pursuit of trust-busting and strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission. However, he lost the support of the Republican Party's progressive wing because of a botched performance on the tariff and an unfortunate conservation controversy. His exercise of "Dollar Diplomacy" in dealings in Latin America and the Far East provoked mistrust, but he managed to settle several nagging problems with Canada. (William Howard Taft)

One of the reasons why many of the republicans and Roosevelt began to dislike Taft was when he signed "the Payne-Aldrich Bill in 1909, a tariff bill that placed a high tariff on many imports. With the signing, Taft betrayed his campaign promises of lowering the tariff." ("Chapter 29: Progressivism and the Republican Roosevelt | APNotes.net")

The problem with Taft signing this bill was because he had campaigned on the platform of lowering tariffs, a staple of progressive agenda. Progressive were in full support of lowering tariffs, not raising them. (The Reconstruction of the 21st Century)

"tafts cautious nature made it impossible for him to hold together the two wings of the republican party: progressives who sought change and conservatives who did not" The Cartoon depicts how Taft was 'softer' then roosevelt and applied conservative methods to Roosevelts reform methods. He couldnt please one part of the party without angering the other. (The Reconstruction of the 21st Century)

President Taft had none of the arts of a dashing political leader, such as Roosevelt, and none of Roosevelt's passion. He generally adopted an attitude of passivity towards Congress. Unlike President Roosevelt Taft was too cautious and didnt even attempt risks like Roosevelt. And in Roosevelt's eyes, Taft had too frequently sided with the corporate giants and political bosses he had so relentlessly battled

In 1912 Taft tried for another term at presidency but he was challenged by a frustrated Roosevelt, who had been offended by the prosecution of "good trusts," the slackening of trust-busting against "bad trusts," the sacking of Gifford Pinchot and dithering on the tariff issue. (William Howard Taft)

With that, Teddy split off from the party when the 'republican machine' opted to support Taft again. He created Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party. With the split of the Republican votes the democrates won an easy victory with Woodrow Wilson(William Howard Taft)

With the lose at the elections the Bull Moose party did not have much support. When they tried to run again in 1916 Roosevelt refused so they chose Charles Evan Hughes, who caused the party to dissolve. After that politics were back to just Republicans and Democrats.