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William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft Quotes

27th U.S. President

William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States, serving from 1909 to 1913. Born on September 15, 1857, and passing away on March 8, 1930, Taft was known for his dedication to maintaining law and order and for pushing for various reforms during his presidency. After leaving office, he remained active in politics and law, serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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Famous William Howard Taft Quotes

“I do not think that there is any doubt about where I stand in respect to boycotts. If there is, I will just state what I think about them. They are illegal and ought to be suppressed. I would never countenance that which recognizes their legality.”

Ifs Thinking States Doubt Ought Labor Illegal Countenance Boycott Legality

Author:William Howard Taft

“It is fitting that the Government of the United States should assume the obligation of the establishment and maintenance of a first-class university for the education of colored menand I wish to put in this caveatthat the colored race today, all of them, would be better off if they all had university education.... Of course, the basis of education of the colored people is in the primary schools and in industrial schools.... In those schools must be introduced teachers from such university institutions as this.”

“We should have an army so organized and so officered as to be capable in time of emergency, in cooperation with the National Militia, and under the provision of a proper national volunteer law, rapidly to expand into a force sufficient to resist all probable invasion from abroad and to furnish a respectable expeditionary force if necessary in the maintenance of our traditional American policy which bears the name of President Monroe.”

“It is not impossible, of course, after such an administration as Roosevelt's and after the change in method that I could not but adapt in view of my different way of looking at things, that questions should arise as to whether I should go back on the principles of the Roosevelt administration.... I have a government of limited power under a Constitution, and we have got to work out our problems on the basis of law. Now, if that is reactionary, then I am a reactionary.”

Ifs Way Should Different Problem Government Law Courses Views Principles Impossible Bases Constitution Method Work Out Arise Administration Different Ways Reactionaries

Author:William Howard Taft

“People run away from the name subsidy. It is a subsidy. I am not afraid to call it so. It is paid for the purpose of giving a merchant marine to the whole country so that the trade of the whole country will be benefitted thereby, and the men running the ships will of course make a reasonable profit.... Unless we have a merchant marine, our navy if called upon for offensive or defensive work is going to be most defective.”

“I prefer an income tax, but the truth is I am afraid of the discussion which will follow and the criticism which will ensue if there is an other division in the Supreme Court on the subject of the income tax. Nothing has injured the prestige of the Supreme Court more than that last decision, and I think that many of the most violent advocates of the income tax will be glad of the substitution in their hearts for the same reasons. I am going to push the Constitutional amendment, which will admit an income tax without questions, but I am afraid of it without such an amendment.”

“Take away from the courts, if it could be taken away, the power to issue injunctions in labor disputes, and it would create a privileged class among the laborers and save the lawless among their number from a most needful remedy available to all men for the protection of their business interests against unlawful invasion.... The secondary boycott is an instrument of tyranny, and ought not to be made legitimate.”

Ifs Men Made Interest Numbers Class Issues Taken Ought Labor Instruments Court Available Protection Tyranny Remedy Privileged Disputes Invasion Laborers Boycott Unlawful

Author:William Howard Taft

“I don't know the man I admire more than [Charles Evans] Hughes. If ever I have the chance I shall offer him the Chief Justiceship.”

Ifs Knows Men Chance He Man Offers Admire Chiefs

Author:William Howard Taft

“The judiciary has fallen to a very low state in this country. I think your part of the country has suffered especially. The federal judges of the South are a disgrace to any country, and I'll be damned if I put any man on the bench of whose character and ability there is the least doubt.”

Ifs Thinking Men Country States Character Ability Doubt Judging Lows South Fallen Disgrace Benches Judiciary Federal Judges

Author:William Howard Taft

“I do not allow myself to be moved by anything except the law. If there has been a mistake in the law, or if I think there has beenperjury or injustice, I will weigh the petition most carefully, but I do not permit myself to be moved by more harrowing details, and I try to treat each case as if I was reviewing it or hearing it for the first time from the bench.”

Ifs Thinking Trying Firsts Has Beens Law Mistake Cases First Time Treats Moved Injustice Details Hearing Permit Benches Petitions

Author:William Howard Taft

“The laboring man and the trade-unionist, if I understand him, asks only equality before the law. Class legislation and unequal privilege, though expressly in his favor, will in the end work no benefit to him or to society.”

Ifs Men Ends Law Asks Class Benefits Trade Privilege Favors Legislation

Author:William Howard Taft

“There is not a subject in which I take a deeper interest than I do in the development of Alaska, and I propose, if Congress will follow by recommendations, to do something in that territory that will make it move on.”

Ifs Moving Interest Subjects Development Congress Deeper Territory Propose Alaska Recommendations

Book:The Collected Works of William Howard Taft: Presidential addresses and state papers

Source: The Collected Works of William Howard Taft: Presidential addresses and state papers

“One cannot always be sure of the truth of what one hears if he happens to be President of the United States.”

Ifs States Happens President United United States

Author:William Howard Taft

“What I am anxious to do is to secure my legislation.... What I want to do is to get through that, and if I can point to a record of usefulness of that kind, I am entirely willing to quit office.”

Ifs Want Kind I Can Records Willing Office Quitting Secure Anxious Legislation Usefulness

Author:William Howard Taft

“If they will play fair I will play fair, but if they won't then I reserve all my rights to do anything I find myself able to do.”

Ifs Play Able Rights Fairs Reserves

Author:William Howard Taft

“If this humor be the safety of our race, then it is due largely to the infusion into the American people of the Irish brain.”

People Ifs Humor Race Brain Safety Dues Being Irish Infusion

Author:William Howard Taft

“Anyone who has taken the oath I have just taken must feel a heavy weight of responsibility. If not, he has no conception of the powers and duties of the office.”

Ifs Feels Responsibility Taken Duty Office Weight Heavy Presidential Conception Oath Heavy Weights

Book:Presidential Addresses and State Papers, from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1910

Source: Presidential Addresses and State Papers, from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1910

“I'll be damned if I am not getting tired of this. It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk.”

People Ifs Seems President Tired Profession Getting Tired

Author:William Howard Taft