William Howard Taft

27th President

1857-1930

1 term

Republican

Taft worked to get control of big businesses that were not good to consumers

Helped create the 16th Amendment, resulting in the start of income tax

Was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt

Birthplace and Boyhood Home: Cincinnati, OH

William Howard Taft was born here on November 15th, 1857.

Home: Washington, D.C.

This home was where William Taft lived after his nomination as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  He also died here.

Grave: Arlington, VA

The story

It was damp in Washington, so we came up with the idea to go to INDOOR activities, which was a good idea, and then dad said, "Let's go to Arlington."  I decided yes, (a history geek like me would never turn down an opportunity to see a President's grave, and the fact that it was Arlington made it all the more irresistible).  We searched the cemetery for a while, and than I spotted the tall tip of the obelisk, and I ran fast, (for the first minute, until I ran out of energy, geeks don't run very well).  I finally reached the grave, and was delighted to see the benches to rest on for a brief moment before standing again for the picture.  We explored for a while, and then found the small stone indicating the individual grave.  I had always wondered who the first person buried in Arlington was, and my question was answered when I found the tomb of Mary Randolph, the first one buried in Arlington.

Sign

This is the sign outside of Arlington National Cemetery.

Sign #2

This sign was at the entrance to the cemetery. 

Sign #3

This was the street sign pointing the way to Taft's grave.

Obelisk

This is Taft's obelisk.  Like Martin Van Buren, at first, we thought it was the actual grave.

Me by the grave

This is me by the obelisk.

Dad by the grave

This is my dad by the grave of Taft.

Bench

This is one of the benches behind Taft's obelisk.  My brothers probably wished they could sit on these while we explored the area around the grave. (=

Inscription

This is the inscription on Taft's obelisk.  It reads

WILLIAM HOWARD

TAFT

1857  1930

PRESIDENT

OF THE

UNITED STATES

CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES

HIS WIFE

HELEN HERRON

1861-1943

Grave

This is Taft's acual grave.

Grave of Helen Taft

This is Taft's wife's grave.

The path that never ends...

This is the long and tiring path to Taft's grave.  Good thing they have benches behind the grave!