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Jukebox the Ghost
In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt, then a political ally of Taft, appointed Taft Secretary of War in order to groom Taft as his successor to the presidency. Riding a wave of popular support of President, and fellow Republican, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency. In his first and only term, President Taft emphasized trust-busting, civil service reform, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, improving the performance of the postal service, and the passage of the Sixteenth Amendment as part of his domestic agenda.
Abroad, Taft sought to further the economic development of undeveloped nations in Latin America and Asia through the method that he termed "Dollar Diplomacy." However, Taft often managed to alienate his own key constituencies, and was overwhelmingly defeated for a second term in the president election of 1912. After leaving office, Taft spent his time in academia, arbitration, and seeking world peace through his self-founded League to Enforce Peace. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding appointed Taft Chief Justice of the United States, fulfilling Taft's lifelong dream. Taft served in this capacity until his death in 1930.
Weighing over 300 pounds on average, Taft was physically the heaviest American president ever elected.[1] Taft is also, to date, the last U.S. president to have facial hair while in office.[1]