William Howard Taft Biography

Birth of William Howard Taft

Graduates from Yale, ranking second in his class out of 121

Attends Cincinnati Law School, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws

William McKinley appoints Taft as the chairman of a commission to organize a civilian Government in the Philippines, which had been ceded to the United States by Spain following the Spanish-American War

From 1901 to 1903, Taft serves as the first civilian Governor of General of the Philippines

Taft visits Rome to negotiate with Pope Leo XIII for the purchase of lands in the Philippines owned by the Roman Catholic Church

Roosevelt appoints Taft as Secretary of State for War

Taft meets Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro & they sign a secret diplomatic memorandum called the Taft-Katsura Agreement

Taft meets Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro & they sign a secret diplomatic memorandum called the Taft-Katsura Agreement

Roosevelt sends troops to restore order in Cuba during the revolt led by General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo, and Taft temporarily becomes the Civil Governor of Cuba, personally negotiating with Castillo for a peaceful end to the revolt

Roosevelt sends troops to restore order in Cuba during the revolt led by General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo, and Taft temporarily becomes the Civil Governor of Cuba, personally negotiating with Castillo for a peaceful end to the revolt

Roosevelt sends troops to restore order in Cuba during the revolt led by General Enrique Loynaz del Castillo, and Taft temporarily becomes the Civil Governor of Cuba, personally negotiating with Castillo for a peaceful end to the revolt

Taft helps supervise the beginning of construction on the Panama Canal

Supports the 16th Amendment, which allows for a federal income tax.

Supports the 17th Amendment, mandating the direct election of senators by the people, replacing the previous system whereby they were selected by state legislatures.

To solve an impasse during the 1909 tariff debate, Taft proposes income taxes for corporations and a constitutional amendment to remove the apportionment requirement for taxes on incomes from property (taxes on dividends, interest, and rents).

To solve an impasse during the 1909 tariff debate, Taft proposes income taxes for corporations and a constitutional amendment to remove the apportionment requirement for taxes on incomes from property (taxes on dividends, interest, and rents)

Supports the 17th Amendment, mandating the direct election of senators by the people, replacing the previous system whereby they were selected by state legislatures

To solve an impasse during the 1909 tariff debate, Taft proposes income taxes for corporations and a constitutional amendment to remove the apportionment requirement for taxes on incomes from property (taxes on dividends, interest, and rents). Supports the 16th Amendment, which allows for a federal income tax

Appointed President of the USA, 27th President

Colombia signs a convention with the USA recognizing Panama

Attempts to conclude a Treaty of recipricocity with Canada , the Treaty collapses (a US reciprocity Treaty would not come into effect until 1988)

Secures the ratification of arbitration treaties that he had successfully negotiated with Britain and France and thereafter was known as one of the foremost advocates of world peace and arbitration

New Mexico becomes the 47th state of the Union

Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Continues as Chief Justice while the Court hears major due process and citizenship cases.

Death of William Taft