William Howard Taft: The Jolly Juggernaut

William Howard Taft was an American politician who served as the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. He was famously known for his portly figure and his infectious jolliness.

Born on September 15, 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Taft was the plump of the litter. He was a hefty baby and remained so throughout his life. He was so rotund that he once got stuck in the White House bathtub, causing quite the stir in the press.

Taft’s jovial personality was a refreshing change from the stuffy politicians of his time. He loved to joke around, tell funny stories, and sing silly songs. He was even known to play practical jokes on his staff and family.

But don’t let Taft’s buffoonery fool you. He was a highly intelligent man with a keen legal mind. He graduated top of his class from Yale University and went on to become a lawyer, a judge, and a professor of law at several prestigious universities.

In 1904, Taft was appointed Secretary of War by President Theodore Roosevelt, where he played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal. In 1908, he was elected as the President of the United States, defeating William Jennings Bryan in a landslide victory.

Taft’s presidency was marked by a number of accomplishments, including the creation of the Department of Labor, the establishment of the Children’s Bureau, and the signing of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act. He also vigorously pursued antitrust policies, breaking up several monopolies during his term.

Although Taft was a highly effective president, he is perhaps best remembered for his love of food. He was notoriously fond of ice cream, consuming several servings a day. He even had a special ice cream machine installed in the White House, which he used to make his own flavors.

Taft’s love of food was immortalized in several cartoons, one of which shows him as a rotund figure sitting at a desk, signing bills into law with one hand while holding an ice cream cone in the other.

In conclusion, William Howard Taft was a remarkable man who was unafraid to be himself. He remains a beloved figure in American history, not just for his accomplishments as a president, but for his jolly personality, his love of food, and his willingness to embrace his rotund figure.