Post by djxkorean on Aug 10, 2009 18:06:56 GMT -8
27th President William H. Taft (1909-1913)
Will searched for LAFFY TAFFY(Taft) in every NooK(27) and cranny, but SoBbed(09) when he it got too DiM to search.
I. Election
. . A. Republican convention has no contest: nominates William H. Taft
. . . . 1. T.R. campaigned for Taft on platform: continuation of conservation policies, enforcement of antitrust laws, and downward revision of tariff
. . B. Democrats: nominates William J. Bryan for 3rd time
. . . . 1. platform: similar to Republicans’ more vigorous stand against monopolies and promised sharper reduction in tariff to revenue levels
. . C. Republicans keep majorities in both houses of Congress
II. Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909)
. . A. Taft pledge a tariff that would reduce rates appreciably w/o abandoning protection
. . . . 1. feasible because of Dingley Tariff of 1897 extravagantly overprotective
. . B. Rep. Payne passed it through the House, but Senator Aldrich managed to get 600 rates increased and ~250 changes
. . . . 1. Several progressive Republicans and Democrats worked together to oppose bill, but still passes
. . . . 2. Taft supports and signs bill; praises Payne-Aldrich Tariff as best Republican party passed
. . . . . . a. Set stage for serious split in party and switch in midterm election
III. Conservation (Pinchot – Ballinger)
. . A. Taft, contrary to Roosevelt, more aware of constitutional limits of executive office
. . B. Opened water power sites and coat deposits in Alaska open to private enterprise
. . . . 1. Pinchot’s superior defended Alaska deal and dismissed Pinchot after investigation approved of Alaskan deal
. . . . . . a. Members of Congress not impressed with finding of own investigating committee
. . . . . . b. Public not pleased: Pinchot was had support of friend and colleague Roosevelt
. . C. Insurgent Republicans and Democrats combined to oppose Taft
. . . . 1. Contemporaries judged Taft as betrayer of Roosevelt’s conservation policies or very weak supporter at best
. . D. However, Taft’s overall program conservation was excellent
. . . . 1. Set aside natural resources, set up Bureau of Mines (watch over gov’t minerals sites)
. . . . 2. New chief forester added large land to nat’l preserves; set aside oild lands for gov’t use
. . E. Taft 1st President to give practical recognition to importance of oil as natural resource
IV. Midterm Election (1910)
. . A. Payne-Aldrich tariff lost Taft support of Republicans (still saw Roosevelt as hero)
. . B. Pinchot-Ballinger tiff over conservation seen as public and enemies as proof that Taft turned back on Roosevelt’s program
. . C. Old Guard with Speaker of House “Uncle Joe” Cannon loses power
. . . . 1. Cannon had considerable power; appointed members to several House committees, could get bills on floor or kept off
. . . . 2. Combination of insurgents and Democrats voted change in rules of House: deprived Speaker of membership on Rules Committee
. . . . . . a. Old Guard couldn’t control flow of bills through House
. . . . 3. Foreshadowed Republican defeat at polls in 1910
. . D. Roosevelt returns in summer of 1910 and opposes Taft on tariff and conservation
. . . . 1. Taft looses confidence of the people
. . E. Taft still pushes through many beneficial programs
. . . . 1. Mann-Elkins Act strengthens ICC
. . . . . . a. right to prevent new rates if challenged in courts
. . . . . . b. Placed telephone, telegraph, cable, and wireless companies under authority of ICC
. . . . 2. Got Congress to set up Postal Savings banks
. . . . 3. Positive deeds went unnoticed
. . F. Democrats gain control of House and large gains in Senate: nominal majority in Senate, but coalition of insurgents and Democrats have control
. . . . 1. Large defeat for the President Taft, but he still works hard
. . . . . . a. passes 90 antitrust suits (30 more than Roosevelt)
V. Taft becomes Chief Justice of US Supreme Court from 1921 -> 1930.
Commentary: I feel sorry for Taft, especially because the man himself was such an able man. If he had come to the presidency at any other time but after Roosevelt, he would definitely be remembered as a great influential President. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the political prestige and charisma that Roosevelt was so well-known and well-liked for. He had big shoes to fill and Taft, unfortunately, did not have the personality to fill those shoes properly. I am still impressed at Taft’s ability to push through so many antitrust suits and legislature even though he was being criticized by both the opposing party and his own. He must have had a terrible and difficult time, and I’m guessing that is largely the reason he dropped out of politics to teach law at Yale University.
Will searched for LAFFY TAFFY(Taft) in every NooK(27) and cranny, but SoBbed(09) when he it got too DiM to search.
I. Election
. . A. Republican convention has no contest: nominates William H. Taft
. . . . 1. T.R. campaigned for Taft on platform: continuation of conservation policies, enforcement of antitrust laws, and downward revision of tariff
. . B. Democrats: nominates William J. Bryan for 3rd time
. . . . 1. platform: similar to Republicans’ more vigorous stand against monopolies and promised sharper reduction in tariff to revenue levels
. . C. Republicans keep majorities in both houses of Congress
II. Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909)
. . A. Taft pledge a tariff that would reduce rates appreciably w/o abandoning protection
. . . . 1. feasible because of Dingley Tariff of 1897 extravagantly overprotective
. . B. Rep. Payne passed it through the House, but Senator Aldrich managed to get 600 rates increased and ~250 changes
. . . . 1. Several progressive Republicans and Democrats worked together to oppose bill, but still passes
. . . . 2. Taft supports and signs bill; praises Payne-Aldrich Tariff as best Republican party passed
. . . . . . a. Set stage for serious split in party and switch in midterm election
III. Conservation (Pinchot – Ballinger)
. . A. Taft, contrary to Roosevelt, more aware of constitutional limits of executive office
. . B. Opened water power sites and coat deposits in Alaska open to private enterprise
. . . . 1. Pinchot’s superior defended Alaska deal and dismissed Pinchot after investigation approved of Alaskan deal
. . . . . . a. Members of Congress not impressed with finding of own investigating committee
. . . . . . b. Public not pleased: Pinchot was had support of friend and colleague Roosevelt
. . C. Insurgent Republicans and Democrats combined to oppose Taft
. . . . 1. Contemporaries judged Taft as betrayer of Roosevelt’s conservation policies or very weak supporter at best
. . D. However, Taft’s overall program conservation was excellent
. . . . 1. Set aside natural resources, set up Bureau of Mines (watch over gov’t minerals sites)
. . . . 2. New chief forester added large land to nat’l preserves; set aside oild lands for gov’t use
. . E. Taft 1st President to give practical recognition to importance of oil as natural resource
IV. Midterm Election (1910)
. . A. Payne-Aldrich tariff lost Taft support of Republicans (still saw Roosevelt as hero)
. . B. Pinchot-Ballinger tiff over conservation seen as public and enemies as proof that Taft turned back on Roosevelt’s program
. . C. Old Guard with Speaker of House “Uncle Joe” Cannon loses power
. . . . 1. Cannon had considerable power; appointed members to several House committees, could get bills on floor or kept off
. . . . 2. Combination of insurgents and Democrats voted change in rules of House: deprived Speaker of membership on Rules Committee
. . . . . . a. Old Guard couldn’t control flow of bills through House
. . . . 3. Foreshadowed Republican defeat at polls in 1910
. . D. Roosevelt returns in summer of 1910 and opposes Taft on tariff and conservation
. . . . 1. Taft looses confidence of the people
. . E. Taft still pushes through many beneficial programs
. . . . 1. Mann-Elkins Act strengthens ICC
. . . . . . a. right to prevent new rates if challenged in courts
. . . . . . b. Placed telephone, telegraph, cable, and wireless companies under authority of ICC
. . . . 2. Got Congress to set up Postal Savings banks
. . . . 3. Positive deeds went unnoticed
. . F. Democrats gain control of House and large gains in Senate: nominal majority in Senate, but coalition of insurgents and Democrats have control
. . . . 1. Large defeat for the President Taft, but he still works hard
. . . . . . a. passes 90 antitrust suits (30 more than Roosevelt)
V. Taft becomes Chief Justice of US Supreme Court from 1921 -> 1930.
Commentary: I feel sorry for Taft, especially because the man himself was such an able man. If he had come to the presidency at any other time but after Roosevelt, he would definitely be remembered as a great influential President. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the political prestige and charisma that Roosevelt was so well-known and well-liked for. He had big shoes to fill and Taft, unfortunately, did not have the personality to fill those shoes properly. I am still impressed at Taft’s ability to push through so many antitrust suits and legislature even though he was being criticized by both the opposing party and his own. He must have had a terrible and difficult time, and I’m guessing that is largely the reason he dropped out of politics to teach law at Yale University.