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Helen Herron Taft
Date of Birth: June 2, 1861
Date of Death: May 22, 1943
Age at death: 82
Married: June 19, 1886 - Howard
Taft
Children: 3 |
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- Often called Nellie, she was educated
and outspoken; an instant match for Howard Taft who claimed he
was attracted to independent women
- In order to defray his courting expenses,
she often insisted on dutch treat dates, and offered to split
the carriage fare when they went out
- While serving as First Lady Nellie
suffered a stroke that incapacitated her for nearly a year
- With the help of the president she
regained her speech and mobility and was able to resume her duties
in 1911
- The White House barn was torn down
in 1910, and the Taft family cow, Pauline Wayne, was sent to
a local farm
- With the exception of pets, it was
the last farm animal at the White House
- All White House dinners were white
tie, and Mrs. Taft insisted all waiters be clean shaven, but
none could be bald.
- She also replaced White House guards
with Black servants dressed in blue livery outfits.
- It was her idea to plant the first
Japanese Cherry Trees in the capital
- The shipment arrived infected with
a virus and had to be destroyed
- Mrs. Taft holds the distinction of
being the wife of a President and a Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, as her husband was appointed to the high court following
his presidency
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