PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH 02/24/1916 - HFSID 76232

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
Lovely 10¼x13 studio photograph of former president Taft.
Photograph inscribed and signed: "For Elinor Tagele Hersy with best wishes/Wm H Taft/New Haven Feb 24th 1916". Sepia, 10¼x13 overall, image 8¾x11¾ (one surface) attached to 11x13¾ board (two surfaces). William Howard Taft (1857-1930), the only man to serve as both U.S. President (1909-1913) and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1921-1930), was handpicked by Theodore Roosevelt to be his successor. Unhappy in the White House, Roosevelt's former Secretary of War nevertheless proved to be a better "trust buster" than his mentor. Taft attempted to reduce Republican-supported tariffs and empowered the Interstate Commerce Commission to end railroad abuses. He started the process leading to a federal budget, sponsored a bill requiring candidates to reveal campaign expenses and initiated the postal savings system. Taft's decisions, reflecting the conservative rather than progressive Republican platform, led to a parting with Roosevelt, and Taft lost his bid for a second term, finishing third behind Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson and Roosevelt. Reaching the pinnacle of his career as Chief Justice, Taft supported the Judiciary Act of 1925, which gave the overburdened Court greater ability to determine the number and type of cases it would hear. He was also instrumental in obtaining congressional funds for a new Supreme Court building. Lightly worn at corners. Fine condition.