Taft was born in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio. His father, [[Alphonso Taft]], was a [[U.S. attorney general]] and [[secretary of war]]. Taft attended [[Yale]] and joined [[Skull and Bones]], of which his father was a founding member. After becoming a lawyer, Taft was appointed a judge while still in his twenties. He continued a rapid rise, being named [[Solicitor General of the United States|solicitor general]] and a judge of the [[Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]]. In 1901, President [[William McKinley]] appointed Taft [[Governor-General of the Philippines|civilian governor of the Philippines]]. In 1904, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] made him Secretary of War, and he became Roosevelt's hand-picked successor. Despite his personal ambition to become chief justice, Taft declined repeated offers of appointment to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], believing his political work to be more important.

Taft was born in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio. His father, [[Alphonso Taft]], was a [[U.S. attorney general]] and [[secretary of war]]. Taft attended [[Yale]] and joined [[Skull and Bones]], of which his father was a founding member. After becoming a lawyer, Taft was appointed a judge while still in his twenties. He continued a rapid rise, being named [[Solicitor General of the United States|solicitor general]] and a judge of the [[Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals]]. In 1901, President [[William McKinley]] appointed Taft [[Governor-General of the Philippines|civilian governor of the Philippines]]. In 1904, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] made him Secretary of War, and he became Roosevelt's hand-picked successor. Despite his personal ambition to become chief justice, Taft declined repeated offers of appointment to the [[Supreme Court of the United States]], believing his political work to be more important.

With Roosevelt's help, Taft had little opposition for the Republican nomination for president in 1908 and easily defeated [[William Jennings Bryan]] for the presidency in that November's [[1908 United States presidential election|election]]. As president, he [[History of U.S. foreign policy#1893–1914|focused]] on East Asia more than European affairs and repeatedly intervened to prop up or remove Latin American governments. While Taft sought reductions to trade [[tariff|tariffs]],the resulting bill was heavily influenced by special interests. His administration was filled with conflict between the Republican Party's conservative wing, with which Taft often sympathized, and its progressive wing, toward which Roosevelt moved more and more. Controversies [[Pinchot–Ballinger controversy|over conservation]] and [[United States antitrust law|antitrust]] cases filed by the Taft administration served to further separate the two men. The [[1912 United States presidential election|1912 presidential election]] was a three-way race, as Roosevelt challenged Taft for renomination. Taft used his control of the party machinery to gain a bare majority of delegates and Roosevelt bolted the party. The split left Taft with little chance of reelection, and he took only Utah and Vermont in his loss to Democratic nominee [[Woodrow Wilson]].

With Roosevelt's help, Taft had little opposition for the Republican nomination for president in 1908 and easily defeated [[William Jennings Bryan]] for the presidency in that November's [[1908 United States presidential election|election]]. As president, he [[History of U.S. foreign policy#1893–1914|focused]] on East Asia more than European affairs and repeatedly intervened to prop up or remove Latin American governments. While Taft sought reductions to trade [[tariff|tariffs]],the resulting bill was heavily influenced by special interests. His administration was filled with conflict between the Republican Party's conservative wing represented by Taft and its progressive wing represented by Roosevelt. Controversies [[Pinchot–Ballinger controversy|over conservation]] and [[United States antitrust law|antitrust]] cases filed by the Taft administration served to deepen the separation between the two men. The [[1912 United States presidential election|1912 presidential election]] was a three-way race, as Roosevelt challenged Taft for renomination. Taft used his control of the party machinery to gain a bare majority of delegates and Roosevelt bolted the party. The split left Taft with little chance of reelection, and he took only Utah and Vermont in his loss to Democratic nominee [[Woodrow Wilson]].

After leaving office, Taft returned to Yale as a professor, continuing his political activity and working against war through the [[League to Enforce Peace]]. In 1921, President [[Warren G. Harding]] appointed Taft chief justice, an office he had long sought. Chief Justice Taft was a conservative on business issues, and under him there were advances in individual rights. In poor health, he resigned in February 1930, and died the following month. He was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], the first president and first Supreme Court justice to be interred there. Taft is generally listed near the middle in [[Historical rankings of presidents of the United States|historians' rankings of U.S. presidents]].

After leaving office, Taft returned to Yale as a professor, continuing his political activity and working against war through the [[League to Enforce Peace]]. In 1921, President [[Warren G. Harding]] appointed Taft chief justice, an office he had long sought. Chief Justice Taft was a conservative on business issues, and under him there were advances in individual rights. In poor health, he resigned in February 1930, and died the following month. He was buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]], the first president and first Supreme Court justice to be interred there. Taft is generally listed near the middle in [[Historical rankings of presidents of the United States|historians' rankings of U.S. presidents]].