William Howard Taft: The Really Big President | 5-Minute Videos
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- William Howard Taft served as both the President of the United States and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - the only man to ever do so. Richard Lim, host of the This American President podcast, recounts the unique career of America’s 27th president.
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Transcript:
You could argue that the two most powerful figures in America are the President and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Only one man has been both: William Howard Taft.
Unfortunately, our 27th president and 10th chief justice is mostly remembered for being…well, fat.
And that’s a shame because the focus on his weight has obscured a career that was as impressive as it was singular.
Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 15, 1857. There was never any doubt that William would become an attorney. His grandfather, Peter Taft, was a prominent lawyer in Vermont and his father, Alphonso Taft, served as Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant.
To his father’s endless frustration, young William was a notorious procrastinator - a trait that lasted a lifetime. He would wait until the last minute to prepare his schoolwork and, later on, his law cases. But that’s all the time he needed because when it counted, he was always prepared.
In 1880, after graduating from Yale, Taft took a degree in law. With some help from his father, he got a job as an assistant prosecutor in Cincinnati.
He rose quickly to become a judge in 1887. He was only 29.
In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as America’s solicitor general - serving in effect as the government’s lead attorney. Taft thrived in the position, winning 15 out of 18 cases before the US Supreme Court.
In 1892, he returned to Cincinnati as a federal judge.
His ultimate ambition, a seat on the High Court, seemed to be within his grasp. When President William McKinley summoned him to the White House in 1900, Taft thought his dream might be coming true. But McKinley had another job for him: Governor of the Philippines.
The United States had just acquired the islands as a prize of the Spanish-American War but didn’t exactly know what to do with it. There were two problems: a lingering insurgency and no history of democracy.
The US military solved the first and Taft solved the second.
He did it by patiently building up the islands’ legal and physical infrastructure. More importantly, he did it by treating the Filipinos as equals, involving them in every step of the process.
No one ever doubted Taft’s skills as a legal theorist - now they learned he was also a skilled administrator. His future Secretary of War Henry Stimson, who also served under presidents Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry Truman, said Taft was the best administrator of them all.
The Filipino people so admired the work he had done on their behalf that when new President Theodore Roosevelt offered Taft a seat on the Supreme Court in 1903, they staged large public rallies to convince him to stay.
It worked - Taft turned down Roosevelt’s offer.
Roosevelt finally got Taft back to the US, appointing him as Secretary of War in 1904. Upon his return, Taft quickly won over his boss. Roosevelt gushed, "He has the most lovable personality I have ever come in contact with.”
In 1908, Roosevelt declared Taft to be his preferred successor.
With TR’s endorsement, Taft easily defeated Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan.
As president, Taft continued many of Roosevelt’s policies, such as busting trusts, regulating the railroad industry, and putting land under federal protection. In fact, Taft ended up busting more trusts and protecting more land than his fabled predecessor. He was also the first president to appoint a woman, Julia Lathrop, to head a federal agency, the US Children’s Bureau.
One would think that Roosevelt would have been proud of his successor’s record, but the two men diverged on a key issue: Taft was a constitutionalist. If he didn’t believe a law or executive action was constitutional, he wouldn’t do it. Teddy never cared much for such legal niceties. If he wanted to do something, he’d find a way around the Constitution.
This might have remained a philosophical dispute between friends, but it boiled over into open warfare when Roosevelt decided he wanted his old job back. When he failed to unseat his protégé at the 1912 Republican Convention, TR bolted the party altogether and ran as a third-party candidate.
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#WilliamTaft #Presidentsday #PresidentTaft
I gotta say I love these videos about the American Presidents. I am learning a lot about American History. And getting to know about Presidents I didn't even know they ever existed! I am not the only one apparently, as these videos are coming one after the other. Prageru might have noticed that people find this series really interesting! Greetings from Argentina! 🇦🇷
And long live freedom dammit from America!
Taft was so loved in the Philippines we dedicated one of Manila's first major avenue.
Taft Ave. 🛣️
I'm from Cincinnati and Taft is still famous here. I've been to his house museum. Also he lost his friend, Archibald Butt, an Army Major and Presidential staff officer on the Titanic.
Man, i had no idea that a lot of underrated presidents we're born in Ohio
Down in Ohio
There is a reason for that...
Being born in the alien hellscape of ohio breeds strong people!🤣
This is a late reply but the reason so many late 19th century and early 20th century presidents are form Ohio is because the state was a critical swing state during this era and both parties wanted to swoon its voters.
Man, PragerU always has bangers when it comes to history. Especially for our presidents. Keep em coming guys 🙏🇺🇸
I love how his presentation was ended with a joke!
I literally lol'd when he said it
I thought the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) was the most ignoble conflict in American history but I am glad to hear that not only did the Filipinos won the peace and a lot of that was due to them lucking out that Taft was a great administrator that was respectful of the Filipino people.
William Howard Taft was a clutch performer when it counted.
One of my favorite presidents!!
Do one on Calvin Coolidge, one of the best presidents you ever had over there.
Prageru already did two videos about him! Search for them!
@@GHP1990 ah my bad just watched it thanks.
I'm sure they'll do another one after Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding
Love these videos about US presidents on Prager U I hope we keep them going, and they’re very intriguing and really good. It will be very interesting to see once we get to the presidents in the 30s margins like from Calvin Coolidge to Jimmy Carter and then Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden in the 40 range.
I am learning a great deal about are past leaders from these videos. Now I have a greater respect for taft. I am glad though the video doesn't mention it. That just before he died Roosevelt and Taft were able to reconcile. It was at the Blackstone hotel in Chicago funny enough I ate there a few times during college without knowing its history.
We can only wonder how things would have turned out differently if Teddy hadn’t been a megalomaniac.
The TR-Taft split, led to Wilson's victory in 1912. Had either one of them supported the other, Wilson would have lost.
If Taft won, he would have served the 4 years..then, he would step down in 1916. Taft was a believer in the two-term tradition, but he would support TR in a future campaign, if TR won renomination.
In the interlude, Roosevelt would be a constant presence on the news (and be a pain in the neck for Taft).
Another hypothetical could have Taft, withdrawing from the race, in favor of TR. Although Taft could win the nomination using just the delegates, from the various political machines, he might withdraw on the basis of TR winning the delegates in every state that has a primary and say, that "Roosevelt is the people's choice". TR could easily win reelection. Taft would try to stay out of the headlines. TR might even reward Taft with the first Supreme Court seat, but I'd think Taft would refuse.
Taft might think that if an Ex-President gets on the Court, it should be for only The Chief Justice's job. Accepting any other job in the Federal Government might seem like a demotion.
William H. Taft: From U.S. President to Supreme Court Justice.
Taft Tunnels
I have an ancestor named for Taft. Yeah. His entire name. Methinks there is a Constitutionalist in my genealogical line! Oh, and Taft's namesake was my grandfather. Pretty sure he was a conservative Republican. He made some great barbecue, I know that!
Taft > Teddy
And not because of his weight.
Teddy was wrong to "work around" the Constitution.
Teddy was just looking for loopholes. That's normal for anyone to try to get around something. That's not illegal, that's learning on what you can do if there are barriers.
True, although he was right about carrying a big stick! 😅
I love the candidness of "with some help from his father". Dude got his start from straight nepotism.
Ah, the last president to keep facial hair throughout a term. (Truman had a mustache quite briefly.)
These videos are awesome
PRAGERU!!!!!
Could?
@@whousa642
...you be any more annoying?
Most assuredly...
@@SHARKVADERS could?
@@whousa642
...you stop cyberstalking me?
Nope...
@@SHARKVADERS could?
How much better would things be today if his reelection campaign had been successful?
Very good! Congrats from Brazil! 👏👏👏
I have more respect for Taft.
there's a major avenue in the capital city (Manila) of my country (Philippines) named after President Taft
My grandfather served under or perhaps after Taft in the Philippines setting up a democracy as a Judge. He died in 1958 when I was a boy of 14 so I never asked him about what he'd done in life. I wish I had.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you all
A great president and a great man, it sounds like he was a sweet guy. Thank you for this
Urgent emergency please join me in prayer for all those affected people children animals in suffering hurting all the world having all medical problems having difficult situations paying bills paying rent evictions homeless hungry prayers for the lost to get saved facing all difficult situations fighting to survive keep the faith God will show you the way in the end we will be victorious with the Lord praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you all....
(Taft) was no light weight - great pun! Thank you, Mr. Lim!
So Americans had lost the plot already then to what the Republic is all about. ...it seems. Sadly.
Another US President from Ohio, The Ohio Conspiracy is real.
Never considered that angle about Ohio, but it is compelling!
Wow, this is a great story, I gotta show this to my Filipino wife!
If anyone's interested, there's a British band called UNIT that released a whole album inspired by and dedicated to Prageru, TPUSA and The Daily Wire. I discovered their You Tube channel a couple of years ago and most of their stuff is excellent. I'm not an agent for the band nor do I know any of them but, to judge from their lyrics, they seem genuine. I found them by typing UNIT Andy Martin The Voice Of Reason into YT which did the trick. They have the entire album as a playlist. One of their tracks features the mighty Ben Shapiro and they do a cracking version of Columbia Gem Of The Ocean, too! PS No, I am not the singer’s dad nor am I their manager or related in any way to the group!
Minor point (0:07 & 5:05): There is no Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The title is Chief Justice of the United States.
Thank you. You saved me the trouble of writing this comment myself.
One of the busiest street named after Taft.
I do know monopolies can create issues... can.
But my reservation.
Isnt it a right to buy what u want. The wierd limit bugged me.
Guess i forgot my convictions from childhood with all the media lies
Skulls and bones
Taft Tunnels
The Taft Commission had improved the life of colonial Philippines. His dream may come late yet he made a better reality for the Philippines that experienced brtual colonization in its past.
I've heard that both Taft and Teddy were for the federal income tax.
I thought it was eaten by wolves 🤔
That man was so big that he once got stuck in the bathtub
Man, Teddy kind of hosed us. Wilson's legacy us one of America's most destructive presidents. Taft would have been better.
Sadly it seems that way.
He also had a secret pony brigade 🙃
Jesus Christ died for our Sins according to the scriptures and that he was Buried and that he Rose Again the third day praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you all......
I’ve been watching Outreach Judaism Rabbi Tovia Singer, with his mostly Christian aidience
I am pleasently surprised. This video is NOT infact conservative propaganda, for the most part. Definiteley an improvement on this "University"'s regular videos.
ANOTHER FREEMASON!!!
2nd, 21 February 2024
Woodrow wilson next when?
Unintended consequences...
of elevating lower branches of government to be equal.
The branches were NEVER intended to be equal, except that one branch shouldn't do the work of the other. Only Congress (or above them, the States united) could theoretically perform the actions of the other two branches. However, the constitution makes that near impossible.
If DC no longer existed, and the various branches had to schedule meetings in various arenas, imo, the U.S. would be the better for it.
Now we were stuck with Woodrow Wilson andcthis progressive dog crap
Woodrow Wilson has not been president for 102 years wdym we are stuck with him 💀💀💀
@@superknugs6327 stuck with progressive acolytes now.
@@superknugs6327 Biden hasn’t been alive for 102 years and we’re stuck with him!
Imagine your entire life, every single moment and week, and month and year of it that you woke up and lived every day, shrunk to less than 7 minutes. How many lives are lived and then when told are just one sentence? "He was a.... " may be all you get, and now remember the millions and billions who don't even get that, because they were completely forgotten, and then be aware, how many were forgotten before they were even gone! (Home Alone ring a bell?)
damn man I didn't expect poetry in the prageru comments
❄️🇷🇺🐷
what does this mean?