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.