William Howard Taft
A Great American Life
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William Howard Taft
Narrated by:
Jacques Roy
Pre-order Now for €25.95
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Narrated by:
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Jacques Roy
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By:
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Walter Stahr
The conventional wisdom is that William Howard Taft was a mediocre president, a man almost without political skills. Yet Taft’s modest, judicial approach to the presidency—he served as a state and then federal judge before entering the White House—looks quite extraordinary in retrospect. Admired by those on either side of the aisle for his genial personality and hearty chuckle, Taft spent his four years in office reducing tariffs, eliminating federal deficits, pursuing government efficiency, avoiding foreign wars, and honoring the Constitution.
Yet even Taft’s presidency would serve as merely a prelude to one of the greatest second acts in American history. More than any chief justice since John Marshall, Taft transformed the judicial branch, particularly as the principal proponent of the legislation that allowed the Supreme Court to begin choosing its cases—and thus to devote its energy entirely to deciding key constitutional and statutory issues.
A rigorously researched and elegant account of five decades of public service, William Howard Taft offers a bold reassessment of a forgotten great American.
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Reviews
“Modesty, judgment and loyalty are traits hard to find in politicians these days. How refreshing therefore to return to Taft, the president who personified all those virtues. With this magisterial biography, Walter Stahr does more than suggest that Taft deserves a far higher rank among presidents. He proves it.”
—Amity Shlaes, New York Times bestselling author of Coolidge
—Amity Shlaes, New York Times bestselling author of Coolidge
“This superb biography of our most judicial president and presidential chief justice argues that Taft’s ‘modest personal virtues’ and principled devotion to defending the U.S. Constitution made him one of the most underrated and significant public servants in American history.”
—Jeffrey Rosen, New York Times bestselling author of The Pursuit of Happiness
—Jeffrey Rosen, New York Times bestselling author of The Pursuit of Happiness
“Colorful and elegantly written, Stahr’s biography resonates with today’s radical-vs-centrist political battles.”
—Publishers Weekly
—Publishers Weekly
“Engaging, fast-paced, informative, and inspiring, this first full-scale biography of the only American to serve as both president and chief justice draws on newly discovered sources to bring Taft to life as a humble, caring human being who trouble shot for Teddy Roosevelt, kept the U.S. out of war, greatly strengthened the federal judiciary, and championed the rule of law.”
—Bob Taft, former Governor of Ohio and great-grandson of William Howard Taft
—Bob Taft, former Governor of Ohio and great-grandson of William Howard Taft
“Readers left and right, blue and red, will find this extraordinary life a great refreshment and a brilliant signpost to a better way.”
—Christopher Cox, author of Woodrow Wilson and former Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security
—Christopher Cox, author of Woodrow Wilson and former Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security
“A strong case for elevating an overlooked president closer to the ranks of greatness.”
—Kirkus Reviews
—Kirkus Reviews
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