"TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO PAY RESPECTS TO PRESIDENT"

TAFT TAKES SUPPLEMENTAL OATH AS CHIEF JUSTICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 3, 1921, William Howard Taft* was administered a supplemental oath by Associate Justice Joseph McKenna**.  

The former President of the United States was appointed Chief Justice of the high court on July 11th at which time the constitutional oath was administered.

After the ceremony, as is the custom, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices "went to the White House to pay their respects to the President." 

SOURCE

"Chief Justice Taft Sworn Into Office," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 3, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

*William Howard Taft (1857-1930) is the only person to have served as both POTUS & Chief Justice.  WHT served as Gov-Gen of the Philippines, Provisional governor of Cuba, Secretary of War, & POTUS.  He was the 10th Chief Justice, 1921-1930.

**Joseph McKenna (1843-1926) served as a member of the US House of Representatives (R-California), Attorney General & Supreme Court Justice, 1898-1925.

   

 

Taft, Harding & Robert Lincoln

May 30 1922

National Photo Company

Library of Congress 

 

"3 REPUBLICANS & 1 DEMOCRAT VOTE AGAINST"

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/ 

 

 

U.S. Supreme Court

1925

US Government Photo

 
 

"PRACTICAL SOLUTION OF AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS"

TAFT ENCOURAGED BY HARDING'S MIDDLE GROUND SOLUTION FOR PERMANENT PEACE

Marion, Ohio (JFK+50) On December 24, 1920, following a meeting with the President-elect, William Howard Taft* said that he was "encouraged" to learn that Warren G. Harding was "working out a practical solution of America's international relations."

Mr. Taft believed a 'middle-ground' solution "would satisfy those anxious for progress and for American leadership in establishing permanent peace."

After the meeting, Mr. Taft would go to Cincinnati to celebrate Christmas with his brother, son and grandchildren. 

*William Howard Taft was asked at this meeting if he would be interested in serving on the US Supreme Court.  He answered that he would be, but only as Chief Justice.

At the time of his meeting with Harding, Mr. Taft was the only living former POTUS.  TR had died on Jan 6 1919.  President Harding nominated WHT as Chief Justice of the USSC & he was confirmed by the US Senate by a vote of 61-4.

WHT to this date is the only POTUS to also serve as Chief Justice.  His term spanned from July 11, 1921 to February 3, 1930.

SOURCE

"Harding Plan For Peace Pleased Taft," New York Tribune, December 25, 1920, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

William Howard Taft

Chief Justice

US Supreme Court (1921)

US Army Signal Corps Photo

 

 

'THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE BATTLE IS STILL BEING FOUGHT"

TAFT SAYS ELECTION OFFICIALS DENYING WOMEN THE VOTE EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO PROSECUTION

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Eleven days after the 19th amendment was confirmed as part of the Constitution of the United States, September 6, 1920, "the (woman's suffrage) battle is still being fought...both on a Federal and State level."

Plans were underway for opponents of woman suffrage to be here in Nashville on September 20th to challenge Tennessee's ratification of the 19th amendment when the Tennessee Supreme Court convenes.  

David Dismore writes that suffrage opponents will also use the courts to prohibit election officials from allowing women in "non-suffrage" states " to vote until after all the court cases have been decided."

Former President William Howard Taft* had something to say about that....

"Election officers of the State who impeach or deny her right to vote expose themselves to prosecution under statues...to protect citizens in their lawful right to vote." 

*William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio & was a graduate of Yale.  WHT served as the 27th POTUS 1909-1913 & 11th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court 1921-1930.  He is the only person to hold both offices.

 

SOURCE

"September 6, 1920," by David Dismore, Turning Point, Suffragist Memorial, www.suffragistmemorial.org/ 

 

 

William Howard Taft

Library of Congress Photo (1908) 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2273

JFK THROWS OUT LAST FIRST PITCH

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy threw out what would be his last ceremonial first pitch of the major league baseball season 54 years ago today, April 8, 1963.  The ceremony was held at DC Stadium here in the Nation's Capital.

The tradition of Presidents of the United States throwing out the ceremonial 1st pitch began with William Howard Taft on April 14, 1910 when he attended the opening game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Athletics.  Every president has participated in at least one ceremonial 1st pitch since that time.

As a possible warning of trouble to come, Warren G. Harding's 1st pitch was followed by the 1st loss of the Washington Nationals in an opening game at which a president threw out the 1st pitch.

Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record, as might be expected with his election to 4 terms as president, at nine 1st pitches.  On his 8th 1st pitch, however, Mr. Roosevelt's throw hit a Washington Post camera.  The ambidextrous Harry S Truman threw 2 1st pitches in 1950, 1 left-handed & 1 right-handed.

Richard M. Nixon "relieved" Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959 becoming the 1st sitting Vice-President to throw out the 1st pitch.  John F. Kennedy, the youngest elected president, was also the youngest president to throw out a 1st pitch.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the oldest president to throw out a 1st pitch.In 1990. 

George H.W. Bush became the 1st president to throw out the 1st pitch in Canada at the opening game at the Sky Dome in Toronto.  Mr. Bush also threw out the 1st pitch at the new Camden Yards stadium in Baltimore in 1992.

In 1993, William Jefferson Clinton changed the tradition by becoming the 1st president to throw the 1st pitch from the pitcher's mound on opening day of the baseball season.  This event also took place at Camden Yards.

On October 12, 2005, Senator Barack Obama threw out the 1st pitch of Game 2 of the ALCS game between the White Sox and Angels in Chicago.  In 2010, Barack Obama threw out the 1st pitch marking the 100th anniversary of the custom of the presidential 1st pitch ceremony.

JFK Throws Out 1st Pitch

 1962 All-Star Game

DC Stadium

Photo by Cecil W. Stoughton

JFK Library Image

                  

TR SPEAKS ON TRUSTBUSTING

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1785

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? TRUSTBUSTERS!

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 114 years ago today, December 3, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered his First Annual Message, a 20,000 word speech to the United States House of Representatives to ask Congress to curb the power of trusts 'within reasonable limits.'

The President said...

"The growth of cities...and the upbuilding of the great industrial centers has meant a startling increase...in the number of very large individual and corporate fortunes..." and while the "mechanism of modern business is so delicate that extreme care must be taken NOT to interfere with it in a spirit of rashness or ignorance....the Government should have the right to inspect and examine the workings of the great corporations in interstate business."

Later in February 1902, J.P. Morgan, head of the Northern Securities Trust, learned that TR's attorney general had filed a lawsuit against his company. Morgan, one of the most powerful men in the nation, couldn't understand how a mere President of the United States could do this to him.

J.P. Morgan sent a private message to TR which read...

 "Send your man to my man and they can fix it up."

The United States Supreme Court ultimately supported TR's view and dissolved the National Securities Corporation.  A vindicated President Roosevelt said that this proved that no man, no matter how powerful, was above the law.

A total of 44 trusts were dissolved during TR's presidency and he earned the title "TRUSTBUSTER".    It was his successor, however, President William Howard Taft, who set the record by "busting" 90 trusts.

SOURCE

"Theodore Roosevelt, First Annual Message, December 3, 1901," The American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

"Putting the screws on Him"

 Puck Cartoon

Almanac of TR

TAFT DEDICATED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 91 YEARS AGO TODAY

May 30, 2013

TAFT DEDICATED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 91 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) William Howard Taft, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and former President of the United States, dedicated the LINCOLN MEMORIAL here in the Nation's Capitol 91 years ago today, May 30, 1922.

Mr. Taft, in his role as president of the LINCOLN MEMORIAL COMMISSION, presented the memorial to President Warren G. Harding on behalf of the people of the United States of America and in the presence of ROBERT TODD LINCOLN, the only surviving son of our 16th President.

              Lincoln Memorial Dedication
                       Washington, D.C.
                           May 30, 1922
                             suvcw.org*

*The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States was responsible for the arrangement and coordination of the dedication by request of President Harding. 

MOLLUS has directed annual commemoration ceremonies since that time.

The architect of the Lincoln Memorial was HENRY BACON while the figure of Lincoln inside was by DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH.  Murals inside the memorial were done by JULES GUERIN.

The inside walls of the memorial have inscriptions of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address.

The Lincoln Memorial Commission was the brainchild of Illinois Senator SHELBY M. CULLOM** who had presented five separate bills from 1901 to 1908 which all went down to defeat because of the opposition of House Speaker Joe Cannon.***

Cullom's 6th proposal, however, Senate Bill 9449, passed in 1910 and the Congress approved the Commission's design and location in 1913.

**Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914) was born in Monticello, Kentucky and moved to Springfield, Illinois where he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1855.  Before his election to the US Senate in 1882, he served in the US House of Representatives and as Governor of Illinois.

In the Senate he oversaw the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act.

***According to an article written by Susan Mandel of the Washington Post in 2008, Republican Joseph Cannon of Illinois, who had met AL twice as a young man, was an arch conservative who balked at the $2 million price tag for the proposed Lincoln Memorial which would make it "the most expensive monument," and twice the cost of the Washington Monument.

Ms. Mandel says that Speaker Cannon also wasn't pleased with the selection of the site near the Potomac River which he described as "that  g....d swamp."

                       Shelby M. Cullom
                    U.S. Senator, Illinois
           Photo by M. Brady/L.C. Handy
              Library of Congress Image

The memorial is surrounded by 36 columns, 1 for each of the 36 states which were part of the United States on April 15, 1865, the day of Lincoln's death.

Above the colonnade are inscribed the names of those states and the dates which they entered the UNION.

Flanking the steps at the entrance of the memorial are 2 buttresses each crowned with an 11 foot tripod carved from pink TENNESSEE MARBLE.

The statue of Lincoln was done in Georgia white marble while the pedestal is of Tennessee marble.

               Statue of Abraham Lincoln
                      Lincoln Memorial
                       Washington, D.C.
              Photo by Jeff Kubina (2007)

In 1963, the Lincoln Memorial was the site of Martin Luther King's historic "I have a dream" speech.

Six million people visit the Lincoln Memorial annually.  On the wall inside they see these words...

"IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ENSHRINED FOREVER"

                        Lincoln Memorial
                        Washington, D.C.
             Photo by John White (2003)