PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/14/1905 - HFSID 30823

WILLIAM H. TAFT
William Taft writes a thank you for the book "Story of the Great Seal of the United States".
Typed Letter Signed: "Wm H. Taft" as Secretary of War, 1p, 5½x9. Washington, D.C., 1905 January 14. To B. J. Cigrand, ("My dear Sir") Chicago, Illinois. In full: "I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 23d of December, and also the copy of the book which you were good enough to send me, entitled 'Story of the Great Seal of the United States'. I thank you for your kindness in sending me the book. Very sincerely yours," Fold crease not at signature. Soiled. 1/4 tear at upper and lower right margin. Includes original typed mailing envelope. Soiled. Lightly creased at edges. 1/2 inch tear at upper left through return address. William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was Governor of the Philippines (1901-1904), Secretary of War (1904-1909), 27th of the United States (1909-1913) and Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court (1921-1930). His bruising convention battle with former ally and patron Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 split the Republican Party, allowing the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Taft as President was caught in the middle between progressives and conservatives and constrained by a more limited view of Presidential powers than TR had possessed, but historians tend to view his term of office more positively than did most of his contemporaries. His skills as Chief Justice are widely recognized. Two items.