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William Howard Taft: 27th President (1909 – 1913)
William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was born in Cincinnati in 1857. He was appointed as a federal circuit judge at the age of 34, served as civil administrator in the Philippines under President McKinley, and later as President Roosevelt's Secretary of War and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States (1921–1930). He is the only person to have served in both of these offices.
Before becoming President, Taft, a Republican, was selected to serve on the Superior Court of Cincinnati in 1887. In 1890, Taft was appointed Solicitor General of the United States and in 1891 a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War in an effort to groom Taft, then his close political ally, into his handpicked presidential successor. Taft assumed a prominent role in problem solving, assuming on some occasions the role of acting Secretary of State, while declining repeated offers from Roosevelt to serve on the Supreme Court.
Riding a wave of popular support for fellow Republican Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency.[2] In his only term, Taft's domestic agenda emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and passage of the Sixteenth Amendment. Abroad, Taft sought to further the economic development of nations in Latin America and Asia through "Dollar Diplomacy", and showed decisiveness and restraint in response to revolution in Mexico. The task-oriented Taft was oblivious to the political ramifications of his decisions, often alienated his own key constituencies, and was overwhelmingly defeated in his bid for a second term in the presidential election of 1912. In surveys of presidential scholars, Taft is usually ranked near the middle of lists of all American Presidents.
After leaving office, Taft’s post-presidency years consisted of serving as a professor of law at Yale University,in arbitration, and the search for world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, after the First World War, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States. Taft served in this capacity until shortly before his death in 1930.
Coinage legislation under President Taft
• Act of June 25, 1910: Authorized Treasury to re-coin gold coins and minor coins that are lightweight
• Act of March 4, 1911: Required the Director of the Mint to procure for each Mint and Assay Office a series of standard weights corresponding to the Troy Pound
• Act of February 15, 1912: Amended the penal code and authorized up to a $100 fine for making, importing or printing coins similar to U.S. or foreign coins
• Act of August 24, 1912: Authorized Treasury to re-coin gold coins and minor coins that are light weight
United States Mint Directors Appointed by President Taft
• Abram Piatt Andrew of Massachusetts — 1909 – 1910
• George Evan Roberts of Iowa — 1910 – 1914