Please do the following:

• Unipac page 11 and pen/pencil.

• Turn off all electronic devices

• Be seated and ready to go! I need all of the time I can get today.

Thanks a bunch!!!!

William Howard Taft

27th President – 1909-1913

William H. Taft – “The Man”

• Republican.• Lawyer, professor,

judge, Governor of Philippines.

• Picked by T.R. to be his successor…….later fight.

• Wins 1908 Election in a virtual landslide.

• Wife – Nellie suffers a stroke during his term.

(1857-1930)

William H. Taft – Public Office

10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1921 –1930)

Election of 1912

Two Presidents, an unknown, and a Socialist.

Let’s meet the candidates!

Who were the candidates?• William H. Taft (R)

(James Sherman)/(Nicholas Butler)

• Woodrow Wilson (D)(Thomas Marshall)

• Theodore Roosevelt (Bull Moose)(Hiram Johnson)

• Eugene V. Debs (Socialist)

(Emil Seidel)

William H. Taft (R)

• Was not very aggressive as President.

• Angered many Republicans and Progressives while President.

• Publicly fights with T.R.

• Republican Convention chaos.

Taft’s 1912 Platform• Defend his program of higher

tariffs

• Continue to break up Trusts.

• Push for Federal Income Tax and Direct Election of Senators.

Woodrow Wilson (D)

• Relatively unknown.

• College professor and Former Governor of New Jersey.

• Was nominated after 46th ballot at the Democratic Convention.

• “New Freedom”

Wilson’s 1912 Platform•Bank reform.•Reduce Tariffs.•Break up trusts to help small businesses.

•More government help to Farmers and Laborers.

•Be a strong leader.

Theodore Roosevelt (Bull Moose)

• 26th President. Held two terms from 1901-1909.

• Very popular President.

• Republican with progressive ideas.

• Shot during campaign.

T.R’s 1912 Platform

• “New Nationalism” stressed a liberal reform policy.

• Direct Election of Senators. (17th Amendment)

• States should have referendum, recall, and initiative.

• Women suffrage. (19th Amendment)

• Labor reform.

Eugene V. Debs (Socialist)

• Former ARU leader.

• Considered a Radical.

PLATFORM• Pushes for

Government ownership of Railroads and Banks

• Labor and Farm reform.

1912 Campaign issues

• Who to vote for??????• Each candidate considers

themselves “Progressive”.• Taft had angered many

Progressives during his presidency.

• Wilson is a very good speaker, starts gaining a good following – not quite as radical as T.R.

What they should’ve asked?

• What are your thoughts on Foreign Policy?

• What is your stance on segregation and minorities?

• Do you have anything in the past that might make people question your character?

• Are you prepared to go to war?

1912 Election ResultsNovember 5th , 1912

• Wilson* - Electoral 435 Popular 6,297,000

• Taft - Electoral 8 Popular 3,481,000

• T. R. - Electoral 88 Popular 4,119,000

• Debs - Electoral 0 Popular 1,100,000

*Wilson wins but only receives 42% of the popular vote.