Description

Easton Press leather edition of Henry F. Pringle's "The Life and times of William Howard Taft," Volumes 1 and 2, COLLECTOR'S editions, two of the LIBRARY OF PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY series, published in 1986. Bound in camel tan leather, the books have decorative acid-free paper end leaves, Symth-sewn binding, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in FINE condition. COLLECTOR'S NOTES included for both volumes. William Howard Taft, who lived from 1857-1930, was born in Ohio; he graduated from Yale and Cincinnati Law School and rose rapidly in the legal profession. Taft holds a unique place in American history in that he was the only man ever to be both President of the U.S. and later, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Pringle wrote: "A big, burly, good natured Midwesterner, Taft was a man of singular integrity and great accomplishment." Taft served as THEODORE ROOSEVELT's appointed governor of the Philippines but was recalled to Washington to become Secretary of War. Taft was Roosevelt's choice to succeed him, but the two men disagreed on issues and Roosevelt formed the "Bull Moose" Party and split the Republican vote and Taft was resoundingly defeated for a second term. William Howard Taft, the twenty-seventh president of the United States, and his wife Helen Louise Herron, had three children: Robert, Helen and Charles. All of them were born in Cincinnati, Ohio; their parents were married there in 1886, and the family kept close ties to the city. As children, though, the three Taft youngsters were citizens of the world, who accompanied their parents throughout the United States, and lived in the Philippines, where their father served as Governor-General from 1901-1903. Only one child—the youngest, Charles—lived in the White House during William Howard Taft’s 1909-1913 presidency. These experiences, and their parents’ commitments to learning and self-improvement, insured that each of the three would differentiate himself in adulthood—brilliantly. However, Taft's wife, Helen, "made waves" when she hired Chinese servants for the White House. Later, President Warren Harding named Taft as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Volume one takes the reader through the first half of Taft's term as President and Volume 2 continues through to Taft's death. 1106 pages, plus Notes, a Bibliography and an Index. I offer combined shipping.