Presidents Veeps First Ladies White House First Pets Directory USAT Home
USA Trivia Info FAQ E-mail:profmark@usa.com Ask Prof Mark  Biographies Aargh

 

Howard Taft - 27th President
Party: Republican
Term: March 4, 1909 - March 3, 1913
Age at Inauguration: 51
Life Span: Sept 15, 1857 - March 8, 1930 [72]
Spouse: Helen Herron - Age at Marriage: 28
Vice President: James Sherman

  • Howard Taft weighed in at over 300 pounds and once got stuck in the White House bathtub
  • It took four men to pull him free after which a new tub was ordered that symbolically held four average-sized men
  • The president was light on his feet, and he proved the fact at regular Wednesday night dance classes sponsored by his wife
  • Taft was the first president to take up the sport of gol
  • He was the first president to throw out the first pitch at a major league baseball game
  • After the admission of Arizona in 1912, Taft was the first president of the 48 continental states
  • Following his presidency he was nominated to the Supreme Court, and as Chief Justice became the only former president to administer the oath of office to an incoming president, Calvin Coolidge in 1925.
  • Taft was the first president buried at Arlington National Cemetery in 1930.