William Howard Taft: The American Presidents Series: The 27th President, 1909-1913

William Howard Taft never wanted to be president, but won resounding victory in the election of 1908 as Theodore Roosevelt's handpicked successor. The only man to serve as both president and chief justice on the Supreme Court, Taft played a crucial role in shaping how American balances populism against the rule of law. Rosen shows how Taft approached every decision in constitutional terms, defending the Founders' vision of limited government. "William Howard Taft never wanted to be president and yearned instead to serve as chief justice of the United States. But despite his ambivalence about politics, the former federal judge found success in the executive branch as governor of the Philippines and secretary of war, and he won a resounding victory in the presidential election of 1908 as Theodore Roosevelt's handpicked successor. In office, Taft sought to put Roosevelt's activist executive orders on firm legal ground, but unlike Roosevelt, who thought the president could do anything the Constitution didn't forbid, Taft insisted that he could do only what the Constitution explicitly allowed. This led to a dramatic break between the two men in the historic election of 1912, which Taft viewed as a crusade to defend the Constitution against the demagogic populism of Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Though he lost reelection, Taft achieved a lifelong dream nine years later when President Warren Harding appointed him chief justice. And while he had chafed in the White House as a judicial president, he thrived on the Supreme Court as a presidential chief justice, promoting consensus and transforming the federal judiciary into a modern, independent, and fully equal branch. In this provocative interpretation, Jeffrey Rosen reveals Taft's crucial role in shaping how America balances populism against the rule of law."--Dust jacket. The only man to serve as president and chief justice, who approached every decision in constitutional terms, defending the Founders{u2019} vision against new populist threats to American democracy William Howard Taft never wanted to be president and yearned instead to serve as chief justice of the United States. But despite his ambivalence about politics, the former federal judge found success in the executive branch as governor of the Philippines and secretary of war, and he won a resounding victory in the presidential election of 1908 as Theodore Roosevelt{u2019}s handpicked successor. In this provocative assessment, Jeffrey Rosen reveals Taft{u2019}s crucial role in shaping how America balances populism against the rule of law. Taft approached each decision as president by asking whether it comported with the Constitution, seeking to put Roosevelt{u2019}s activist executive orders on firm legal grounds. But unlike Roosevelt, who thought the president could do anything the Constitution didn{u2019}t forbid, Taft insisted he could do only what the Constitution explicitly allowed. This led to a dramatic breach with Roosevelt in the historic election of 1912, which Taft viewed as a crusade to defend the Constitution against the demagogic populism of Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Nine years later, Taft achieved his lifelong dream when President Warren Harding appointed him chief justice, and during his years on the Court he promoted consensus among the justices and transformed the judiciary into a modern, fully equal branch. Though he had chafed in the White House as a judicial president, he thrived as a presidential chief justice

The only man to serve as president and chief justice, who approached every decision in constitutional terms, defending the Founders’ vision against new populist threats to American democracy

William Howard Taft never wanted to be president and yearned instead to serve as chief justice of the United States. But despite his ambivalence about politics, the former federal judge found success in the executive branch as governor of the Philippines and secretary of war, and he won a resounding victory in the presidential election of 1908 as Theodore Roosevelt’s handpicked successor.

In this provocative assessment, Jeffrey Rosen reveals Taft’s crucial role in shaping how America balances populism against the rule of law. Taft approached each decision as president by asking whether it comported with the Constitution, seeking to put Roosevelt’s activist executive orders on firm legal grounds. But unlike Roosevelt, who thought the president could do anything the Constitution didn’t forbid, Taft insisted he could do only what the Constitution explicitly allowed. This led to a dramatic breach with Roosevelt in the historic election of 1912, which Taft viewed as a crusade to defend the Constitution against the demagogic populism of Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

Nine years later, Taft achieved his lifelong dream when President Warren Harding appointed him chief justice, and during his years on the Court he promoted consensus among the justices and transformed the judiciary into a modern, fully equal branch. Though he had chafed in the White House as a judicial president, he thrived as a presidential chief justice.

William Howard Taft Never Wanted To Be President, But Won Resounding Victory In The Election Of 1908 As Theodore Roosevelt's Handpicked Successor. The Only Man To Serve As Both President And Chief Justice On The Supreme Court, Taft Played A Crucial Role In Shaping How American Balances Populism Against The Rule Of Law. Rosen Shows How Taft Approached Every Decision In Constitutional Terms, Defending The Founders' Vision Of Limited Government. Introduction : Judicial President And Presidential Chief Justice -- A Judicial Temperament : The Education Of Judge Taft -- We Want Taft : Civil Governor, Secretary Of War, And President-elect -- The Best Tariff Bill : The President, Tax Reform, And Free Trade -- Within The Law : The Environment, Monopolies, And Foreign Affairs -- Popular Unrest : The Election Of 1912 And The Battle For The Constitution -- I Love Judges And I Love Courts : Chief Justice At Last -- Epilogue : Our Constitutional President. Jeffrey Rosen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [139]-164,169-170) And Index.