PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - AUTOGRAPHED INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH 03/10/1909 - HFSID 279321

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
Sepia-toned photo, taken in 1908 by Harris & Ewing, of William H. Taft from the chest up in a coat and tie, signed "For my friend" and "with best wishes". Framed to 15½x19¼ in an antique bronze-colored frame with beige fabric matte.
Photograph Inscribed and signed: "For my friend Walter J. Ballard/with best wishes of Wm. H. Taft/March 10, 1909". B/w sepia-toned, 8x11½ overall (visible), 5¾x8¾ image, framed to 15½x19¼ in an antique bronze-colored frame with beige fabric matte. Embossed in lower left corner: "Copyright/1908 by/Harris & Ewing". William Howard Taft (1857-1930) is the only person to have held both offices of President of the United States (1909-1913) and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1921-1930). His other distinguished posts included Governor of the Philippine Islands (1900-1904) and Secretary of War (1904-1908). The Republican Party's candidate for re-election as President, he lost a three-way race against his former Presidential patron, Teddy Roosevelt, running now for the Progressive Party, and the victor, Democrat Woodrow Wilson. The most famous member of the renowned Taft family of Ohio politicians, he was the son of Alfonso Taft, Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Grant, and the father of Robert Taft, a U.S. Senator (1939-1953) and four-time candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. His great-grandson, Robert A. Taft II, became Governor of Ohio. Photo is lightly toned, silvered and creased. Color has rubbed off frame in places. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed by unknown individual. Photo not inspected outside of frame. As is framing purchase.