Volume III: Biographies

TAFT, William Howard *

Film Subject (1913)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: William Howard Taft, as outgoing president, was filmed by Thanhouser as part of the inauguration ceremonies held in Washington, D.C., March 4, 1913. Portions of this footage appeared in two Thanhouser releases.

Biographical Notes: William Howard Taft (1857-1930) served as president of the United States from 1909 to 1913. He ran for the presidency in the election of 1908, with the backing of his good friend, Theodore Roosevelt, in whose cabinet he had served. By 1911 Taft had split with the former president on several matters, and at the June 1912 nominating convention Roosevelt hoped to regain the presidency for himself. When the Republican machine selected Taft, Roosevelt decided to form a splinter faction, the Bull Moose Party. At the election that autumn, the Republicans were split in their votes, and the result was a landslide for Woodrow Wilson, who gained 435 electoral votes, against just eight for Taft and 88 for Roosevelt. Years later, in 1921, Taft was named as chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, a position which history records he enjoyed much more than the presidency. Taft was a prominent figure on the American scene until his death in 1930.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1913: Inauguration Ceremonies (3-5-1913), The Patriot (4-8-1913)

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