PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/25/1911 - HFSID 15610

WILLIAM H. TAFT
William H. Taft sends a typed letter to Senator Ernest R. Ackerman of thanks for the letter of support.
Typed Letter Signed: "Wm H Taft" as President, 1p, 7x8¾. Washington, D.C., 1911 July 25. On White House stationery to Senator Ernest R. Ackerman, Plainfield, N.J. In full: "I thank you for your very kind letter of July 22nd. I shall look forward to seeing you in the Fall. The cordial words of commendation and support which you are good enough to use concerning me are both gratifying and encouraging, and I assure you of my gratitude. Heartily reciprocating your good wishes for a pleasant summer, I am, Sincerely yours". In 1910 and 1911, President WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT made a notable effort to secure the ratification of arbitration treaties that had been negotiated with Great Britain and France, and was thereafter known as one of the foremost advocates of world peace and arbitration. Ironically, Taft's actions angered his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, under whom Taft had served as Secretary of War (1904-1908). While Roosevelt had initially supported Taft for the presidency, which he won in November 1908, Roosevelt's supporters tried to wrest the nomination for a second term away from Taft at the Republican National Convention held in Chicago on June 18-22, 1912. When they failed, they left the Republican Convention on June 19th, organized the Progressive Party and nominated Roosevelt for President. The Democrats had nominated New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for President on July 2nd. In the November 5, 1912 election, Wilson was elected President (6.3 million popular votes, 435 electoral votes, 40 states), Roosevelt came in second (4.1 million, 88 electoral, six states) and Taft finished third (3.5 million, 8 electoral, two states), becoming the only incumbent President to finish third in a national election. Nine years later, Taft would become the only U.S. President to also serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, serving as Chief Justice from 1921-1930. Republican ERNEST ROBINSON ACKERMAN (1863-1931) served as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1919 until his death in office in October 1931. Slight "haloing" of ink. Lightly creased, not at signature. Shaded at perimeter from prior framing, lightly soiled at blank margins. Overall, fine condition.