FORMER PRESIDENT TAFT CONFIRMED AS CHIEF JUSTICE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 30, 1921, former POTUS William Howard Taft* was named Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President Warren G. Harding.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Taft's nomination 61 to 4 with a roll call vote. Three Republicans (Borah, Johnson & La Follette) voted against confirmation along with one Democrat (Watson).
Senator Borah argued that Taft was unqualified for the position because he "had not been active in the law for 30 years."
At the time of his confirmation, Mr. Taft was in Montreal "engaged in the arbitration of railroad claims for the Canadian government."
The sixty-three year old former president was to take the oath of office as Chief Justice on July 7.
*William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio & educated at Yale University & the University of Cincinnati School of Law. WHT served as Gov/Gen of the Philippine Islands 1901-1903, Gov of Cuba 1906, Secretary of War 1904-1908, POTUS 1909-1913, CJ USSC 1921-1930.
SOURCE
"Harding Appoints Taft Chief Justice; Senate Confirms Him, 61-4," The New York Tribune, July 1, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
