President Taft's White House

William Howard Taft
Baseball, and Tariffs

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

After complaints that football is too violent, D.C.’s leadership met with football schools to discuss changes to the sport.

Now (December 29, 1909), play will end when the ball is "down". No dragging, pilling, or trying to advance the ball once this happens. Also only personnel can be on the sidelines.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

For Christmas Dinner in his 1st year as President, William Howard Taft was served a 92 pound mince pie. (Entry from the White House Diary, 1909)

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

It is Christmas Eve and President Taft is out shopping for gifts. 116 years ago he was on Pennsylvania Ave and F St. Going into Galt’s Jewelry Store and Becker’s Leather Goods.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Tonight Taft was a guest at the Gridiron Club dinner, which features skits and songs to mock the president.

Skits included:
Taft overeating.

Lawmakers discovering the North Pole to escape the summer heat.

Convincing progressives that Teddy Roosevelt is no longer president.

Suffragettes forcing their men to petition with them.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft and Vice President Sherman are in Middletown, CT to see Dr. Shanklin, the new president of Wesleyan University.

In Taft’s speech he notes his "desire to increase every class in a university" although doing so would put a burden on schools to increase their funding.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

After visiting Columbia, South Carolina, Taft arrived in Augusta, GA tonight. Taft is the first president to visit Columbia since Washington in 1791.

Augusta viewed Taft well due to his extended visit before his inauguration. They even added him to their city directory and Representative Hardwick is considering introducing a bill that would fund a winter home for Taft in the city.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft arrived in New Orleans today.
He ate with Archbishop Blenk and then spent the rest of the day enjoying his time in the city.
This included a performance at the opera (Les Hugenots). And two football games. LSU lost to Sewanee 15-6 and Tulane beat Miss St. 2-0.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft arrived in Portland this morning and after breakfast took a car ride around the city before a banquet dinner.

During the car ride secret service and policemen spotted a man, Arthur Wright, walking towards the car holding a camera backwards. After refusing to halt Wright was tackled and a gun was found on him.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

"I think the action of the President is a mistake," Rev. Louis Bowerman stated.

Taft, after hearing the complaints that he should be observing the sabbath today (Sunday), chose to keep the current plan to take part in a demonstration and parade on South Temple Street.

A large portion of ministers agreed with Bowerman especially since the parade took place outside their congregations.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft arrived in Milwaukee at 6:00 am.
He was driven through the city, stopping to make speeches along the way and at his final stop at the fairgrounds. Taft then got back on the train to travel to La Crosse and later Winona.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

@StevenHerbert He may have passed through but he did not make an official stop.

I would imagine any busy week for a president in the jet-age would exceed the distance of this train trip. Even if you just count domestic travel, reelection campaigning in October would also exceed this trip

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft left Boston today to begin a trip across the U.S. This will be the longest journey for a President (at the time).
"Occasionally I hear a query why I should start off on such a trip, and 'What particular good does it do to anybody?' Well, it certainly is not going to be a pleasure trip, although I shall enjoy it."

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft sent a telegram congratulating Frederick Cook on his discovery of the North Pole (later to be left unproven). Robert Peary, racing Cook to the pole tells reporters a couple days later that Cook never made it.

Your triumph, "stirs the pride of all Americans, that this feat, which has so long baffled the world, has been accomplished by the intelligent energy and wonderful endurance of a fellow-countryman."

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft's tariff bill is almost finished but will the voters like it? Based on this past week (in 1909), it is looking unpopular.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft visited Lake Champlain in New York for the 300th year of its discovery by Samuel de Champlain. Taft spoke about the seas and of world peace. He was joined by the ambassadors of Great Britain, France, and Japan.

I don't mind the seas, but I should think that those that do mind them would not believe the story of Magellan, Champlain, and Cortez... -President Taft

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

The honoring of Orville and Wilbur Wright has begun in Dayton, OH (Taft chose Ohio for the site over New York). One banner during the opening ceremony said "They're the right Mr. Wrights all right."

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

The Wright Brothers met with Taft to receive gold medals from the Aero Club of America in the East Room.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Congress has agreed to rehear a case of the 25th infantry battalion, an all black unit that was dismissed "without honor" during the Roosevelt administration.

The unit was charged with shooting white citizens in Brownsville, Texas. Taft noted that "no question of race is to enter into [the decision]"

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

In Charlotte, President Taft sat in attendance of a parade in his honor. At around 1:30 pm one of the electric wires was damaged by a float causing a loud explosion. Taft was in awe by the spectacle.

[President Taft's White House @OtdTaft]

Taft has paid tribute to both the North and the South during the unveiling at Fort Mahone.

A statue was erected for those who fell in the Battle of Petersburg during the Civil War.