William Howard Taft – Only Man to Serve as President and Chief Justice
William Howard Taft always dreamed of being a Supreme Court Justice. He was even offered the chance several times throughout his career, but refused out of a sense of duty to the various posts he was already serving. After a term as President, the time was finally right for Taft to take his dream job – on July 11, 1921.
As President, Taft faced several struggles, largely from his own party. In spite of this, he managed to create peaceful relations through treaties with foreign nations, established the first presidential budget, and imposed several pieces of civil service reform.
After leaving the White House, Taft taught and wrote 1921, when he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court. He enjoyed an eight-year career in that position, reorganizing court systems, introducing lasting reforms, and promoting the construction of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. Taft retired in 1930 due to ill health and died five weeks later. He was the only chief justice to have a state funeral and the first President to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
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The first thing I do each morning – after getting my cup of coffee – is to check the site This Day in History. I have begun to buy stamps again, this time from Mystic Stamp Company. Reading the book A History of America in Thirty-Six Postage Stamps by Chris West I have a new love of collecting U.S. Postage Stamps. After Mystic’s 365 days of stamp history, Mystic Stamp should publish a book. I would buy a copy. – Glenn Harper
That’s wonderful, Glenn. Thank you for being a part of Mystic’s This Day in History series.
Very interesting information about President Taft, that I was not aware of. Thanks!
Like Mr. Harper I am addicted to look for the site “This Day in Historyâ€. I support the idea of a book with this well-done material. I save all the “Days in history†but it will be easy if you have a book (maybe with space, in each chapter, for one related stamp to be glued). Good work Mystic Stamp. Thanks!