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A Church Fit for a President
Rev. Sharon Dittmar
February 9, 2003

On September 15, 1857, William Howard Taft, future President and Supreme Court Justice, was born in the family house, which still stands across from Christ Hospital, on Mt. Auburn Avenue.  At seven weeks of age his mother, Louise Torrey Taft, wrote this letter "He [Will] is very large of his age and grows fat every day . . . He has such a large waist, that he cannot wear any of the dresses that are made with belts."[1] A few months later she wrote "He spreads his hands to anyone who will take him and his face is wreathed in smiles at the slightest provocation."[2]  These two qualities; his weight and his good nature would follow him throughout his life, as would two others, his Cincinnati roots and his parent's Unitarianism.

His father, Alphonso Taft was born in Vermont in 1810.  He arrived in Cincinnati in 1838, when there were approximately 40,000 citizens.  Taft was a graduate of Yale and wanted to practice law in a town where he could make a fair living.  He was honest, hard-working, and cautious.  Eventually Taft would achieve success in law, and in politics (helped found the Republican party in Ohio, served as a President Grant's Secretary of War, and later minister to Vienna and St. Petersburg) but he never became wealthy.  He also served on the Ohio Superior Court.  Walter Herz can make a strong case that he secretly supported the Underground Railroad.

As Taft wrote "My father and mother were Unitarians . . . liberal religion was therefore bred in my bones."[3]  Alphonso joined First Unitarian Church (then known as First Congregational Church) in 1839 and remained a member until his death in 1891.  As an Ohio Superior Court judge he once issued a dissenting opinion insisting that the Bible should not be read in public schools (info on this at Taft house).  Very Unitarian.  Taft's dissenting opinion was upheld in a higher court and the Bible reading was taken out of Ohio public schools.

Alphonso's first wife, Fanny Phelps of Vermont gave birth to 5 children.  Only Charles and Peter survived.  In 1852 Fanny died from tuberculosis.  Within a year Alphonso returned to New England to find a wife, choosing Louise Torrey from Massachusetts.  Louise was soon beloved by her stepsons, and gave birth to five more children.  Her first son, Sam died as a toddler, but soon after came Will, Henry, Horace, and finally a much-desired girl, Frances. 

Although Alphonso was a stern man, I was very touched by a letter Will wrote to his wife Nellie while staying with Alphonso during his final illness in 1891.  Will wrote that one day "he looked up at me in the sweetest way imaginable and said to me 'Will, I love you beyond expression."[4]

In his two volume set, William Howard Taft:  The Life and Times, author Henry F. Pringle describes Cincinnati in Will's childhood:

The Cincinnati of Will Taft's adolescence was a series of village rather than a midwestern metropolis.  The low-lying Basin, along the river, was congested enough.  But the seven hills above the town - Mt. Auburn where the Taft's lived was one of these - were still sparsely settled communities.  Walnut Hills, Clifton, Evanston, Mt. Adams and the others were distinct from each other."[5]

Apparently, the Mt. Auburn boys used to go down to Reading Rd. to fight with the Walnut Hills boys.  According to Pringle, "Will being very tall and stout, was called Big Lub.  Harry, tall but less heavy, was merely Lub.  Horace was Little Lub."[6]

Pringle writes this about Taft's religious life:

When they were quite small, the Taft boys attended Sunday school at the Western Unitarian Conference Church (that would be us) . . . however, the Taft home was not a religious one.  Alphonso Taft had revolted from the Baptist tradition of his childhood and had become a Unitarian.  Will followed in his footsteps.  Religion, to William Howard Taft, was a matter of relatively slight importance.  But it disgusted him, when he was caught in the turbulence of politics, to receive scores upon scores of letters branding him a Unitarian. atheist and demanding that he be barred forever from the White House.[7]   [I completely disagree with this assessment and will return to it shortly] 

Taft attended Woodward High School.  As a young man he loved baseball, and later in life, golf.  He attended Yale College, graduating in 1878.  That same year he entered Cincinnati Law School.  There are many questions about why he didn't continue at Yale.  Basically I think he liked Cincinnati.  He wanted to come home and knew that the Law School here was good enough.

 Today we think of him as a large (fat), mediocre President, but as a young man he was heavy set, but athletic, and an excellent dancer.  In his college graduation photo he is handsome.  He was honest to a fault, a good conversationalist, had a terrific laugh, and was considered a fine catch.  When he returned to Cincinnati he became a bit of a man about town (nothing illegal).

- his father complains - little needling letters - Taft takes his time

He received several valentines from female admirers after he appeared in a First Church Unity Club theater production (Eighth and Plum location).  One reads "Popular in every sense,/And with the ladies fair/An Adonis, while the golden tinge/Gleams in your sunny hair.[8]        

In 1880, he graduated with a law degree and proceeds to work as a law court reporter, then Asst. Hamilton Co prosecutor, then Asst. Hamilton Co. Solicitor, and finally Ohio Superior Court judge like his father.  By the late 1880's he has in mind a secret wish, to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

In 1886 Taft married Helen Herron (known as Nellie).  "Nellie" was pretty, extremely intelligent, at times sharp, and very musical (a founder of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra).  After his parents, Nellie became the most influential person in Taft's life, prodding him to take higher office again and again.  The Tafts would be devoted partners for the rest of their lives.

"I know that I am very cross with you, but I love you just the same."[9] - letter from Nellie to Taft shortly after marriage.

Taft letter to Nellie: "Thought of you has so much intellectual flavor and sweet sentiment, too.  I am so glad that you don't flatter me and sit at my feet with honey.  You are my dearest and best critic."[10] 

         I like these letters because they capture the flavor of their marriage, and the reasons for its success.  Nellie was ambitious and critical.  Taft appreciated her intelligence and criticism.  He truly loved her.  I don't see him though as the hapless husband.  After reading about Taft I think he wanted someone to give him direction.  Nellie prodded him, but he let her do it.

Taft was an honest, intelligent, talented man who was going to succeed in life. He had no major vices and through his father he was introduced to public office, but would have been just as happy to relax more often.  On the one hand he was incline to drift a bit, but on the other, he clearly wanted Nellie as his wife and never regretted his choice.  He chose someone who prodded him.

Taft was not always enough of his own person, which led him to unhappily fulfill "duties", like the Presidency, to acquiesce to stronger personalities even when he still had questions.  However, he was too congenial of a person to have had major regrets.  Taft really had the most extraordinarily sunny temperament.  Personally he struggled greatly as President, but he became optimistic again when the bad times passed.

Nellie and Taft had three children, Robert, Helen, and Charles.

Taft letter to Nellie:

"Tell Robbie that I send him as many kisses as there are squares between Third and Lawrence and Freeman and Liberty, and as many to Helen as there are squares between Freeman an Liberty and Third and Lawrence."[11]

In 1890, Taft became Solicitor General- argued govt cases in front of Supreme Court.  Nellie was delighted.  He also became acting Attorney General for a time.  Of this experience Taft wrote "The novelty of it wore of in just about one day"[12]  In 1892 the Tafts moved back to Cincinnati when William joined the Sixth Circuit Ct of Appeals.  He was delighted to return.  Soon after he was made Dean and Professor at Cincinnati Law School.

In 1899 he was offered the Presidency of Yale.  He rejected the offer and explained why in a letter to his brother Henry:

It would shock the large conservative element of those who give Yale her power and influence in the country to see one chosen to the Presidency who could not subscribe to the creed of the orthodox Congregational Church of New England . . . I am a Unitarian.  I believe in God.  I do not believe in the Divinity of Christ, and there are many other of the postulates of the orthodox creed to which I cannot subscribe.  I am not, however, a scoffer at religion but on the contrary recognize, in the fullest manner, the elevating influence that it has had and always will have in the history of mankind."[13] 

         I am puzzled that Pringle can say that his childhood home "was not a religious one, " that "Religion, to William Howard Taft, was a matter of relatively slight importance."  If this were the case Taft would claim himself an Episcopalian and take a nice, prestigious, well-paid Presidency at Yale.  I initially wondered if this opinion by Pringle reflected a confusion about traditional signs of devotion or religious life (prayer, baptism of children, etc). 

If you look at William Howard Taft he was clearly an exemplary Unitarian for his day - honest, respectful, a devoted public servant and lifelong active layman.  He used his intellect when interpreting the Bible.[14]  Taft was an educated, conservative, institutional Unitarian.

Pringle's assessment reflects a blatant neglect and ignorance of Unitarianism.  I can't understand how he missed discovering the importance of Unitarianism in Taft's private papers (same with 4 out of 5 other authors from library books).  Unitarianism was as important to Alphonso, as it was to William Taft.

While in Washington D. C. Taft attended All Souls for over twenty years and periodically presided at their annual meeting.  He also assisted on the endowment committee.  He was buried from that congregation.[15]  President Calvin Coolidge remembers Taft speaking about religion and Unitarianism, explaining that he was President of the General Conference, and inviting Coolidge to the dedication of the Washington church (which Coolidge attended).[16] 

When the Unitarian Layman's League was established in 1919, Taft was the Layman's keynote speaker at the Unitarian meetings in May 1920.[17]  Taft served as President of the General Conference of Unitarian and Free Churches for 10 years (1915-1925), as well as Vice President of the American Unitarian Association.  Those of you sitting here today know what constitutes an active member, and what doesn't.  This is the description of an active lay member.  Religion was of enormous importance to William Howard Taft.  The excerpt of the speech I quoted you this morning is an impressive articulation of religious tolerance and diversity, as well as Unitarian theology and history.  I can only surmise that his Unitarianism has been excluded for reasons of prejudice.

          In 1900, Taft was appointed President to a Commission in the Philippines- Taft had his doubts but went anyway - imperialism/racism? - stayed until 1904, twice refusing position on Supreme Ct. because work is not done.  In 1904 Taft became Secretary of War.  In this capacity he served a President Roosevelt's emissary to Japan, and supervised building of Panama Canal. 

Within a brief period of time Taft was won over by Roosevelt, even on issues of war, and involvement in the Philippines.  Pringle writes "one searches in vain for a major issue on which Taft took a stand, even in private, against Roosevelt."[18]

By 1906 it was clear that Taft could be the Republican candidate for President in 1908.  Nellie was delighted.  His mother was less certain.  She wrote in a letter to him "so near the throne, you realize that "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."  Roosevelt is a good fighter and enjoys it, but the malice of politics would make you miserable.  They do not want you as their leader, but cannot find anyone more available."[19]  His mother was not being cruel, she just knew her son.  After winning the Republican nomination Taft wrote "the next four months are going to be a kind of nightmare for me."

In the 1908 election, Taft ran against Democratic candidate and populist William Jennings Bryan (Scopes Monkey Trial).  Pringle maintains that the one sentence from his 1899 letter to his brother, "I do not believe in the Divinity of Christ," would have been enough to keep him from the White House in 1908.[20]  Here are some sample letters that Taft received when running for President[21]:

Dear Sir:

     Some of my friends state that they will vote against you on the ground that you are an infidel, and that you do not believe in our God.  In order that I may answer this accusation, please let me know just how you stand on the subject.

Sir:

      Beg to ask you, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?”

      Hope I am worthy of a prompt reply.

Dear Sir:

      Objection is being urged to your election to the presidency on the ground that you deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.

      See enclosed leaflet of H.C. Morrison.  Please state whether you believe or disbelieve the statement of Peter: “Thou art the Christ the son of the living God.”  Matthew 16:16. 

Pringle writes:

Campaign strategists assured the public that Taft, although a Unitarian, was a good Protestant and no papist.  It was pointed out that Mrs. Taft was an Episcopalian and that Helen, their daughter, had been confirmed in that faith.  But Taft flatly refused to inject himself into an open controversy.[22]

Although Taft may have been able to avoid open controversy in 1908, and obviously thought the issue irrelevant, which of course, it was and is, I'm not sure a modern candidate would be so lucky.  I really had to ask myself if a Unitarian could be elected President today, and I don't think a Unitarian could be elected President.

Two months after Taft was sworn in, his wife had a stroke.  Taft was stricken, horrified.  Over time Nellie recovered, but their daughter Helen left school to take her mother's place at official White House functions.

As President, Taft could never get away from Roosevelt, mostly because Roosevelt would never leave.  The story of these two great men going from friends to bitter enemies is worthy of a sermon in and of itself.  Roosevelt did not run in 1908 because he had promised not to take a third term, but he was restless, energetic, charismatic, opinionated, and he wouldn't leave either Taft or the Republican party alone. 

Taft's presidency was not a disaster; neither was it memorable.  Taft, an honest, to some plodding, smiling, wordy speaker, could never match the flash and panache of his predecessor Roosevelt.  Taft was an "interim" president.  His Presidency was bogged down by tariff problems, conservation issues and alleged mismanagement of Alaskan coal, Senate conflicts, the contentious issue of corporate taxation (which Taft favored), and of course, Roosevelt. 

Taft was conscientious, deliberate, careful, qualified, but it almost seems that his ambivalence about the Presidency caught up with him.  He was neither demagogue, nor narcissist.  He was Will Taft, the man who wanted to be Supreme Court Justice.  Ironically, he appointed six Supreme Court Justices, three Democrats and three Republicans, in his four years as President.

          He was also ridiculed far more than he deserved because of his weight, which at times, particularly when he was stressed or unhappy, went near 350 pounds.  The newspaper cartoons from this era are like cartoons today, and they are very cruel in their depiction of him as a large man.  His smile also caught up with him.  A trait once seen as pleasant, conciliatory, became to some, annoying.  Taft just wasn't "intriguing" enough to be a successful American President. (sermon preached several years ago – French researcher determined what Americans wanted from President – entertainment).

In 1912, Roosevelt ran on the Progressive ticket against Taft, splitting the Republican vote, and insuring the election of Woodrow Wilson.  As much as Taft had reservations about Wilson and privately grumbled about some of his Presidential decisions later on, he was pleased that Wilson won, equally relieved that he would no longer be President, and that neither would Roosevelt.

After leaving the presidency, Taft became a Professor of Law at Yale.  His one regret was "that it takes me away from Cincinnati."[23]  Isn't this astonishing?  This was a man who had traveled the world, lived in the Philippines, lived in Washington D.C. for over decade.  His one regret, "it takes me away from Cincinnati."  This was so typical of loyal, devoted Taft.

In 1921 Taft's deepest desire, which he had held to for almost forty years, was fulfilled when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.  His legacy there is as a conservative justice.  My layperson's understanding is that Taft represented the view of educated, comfortable, privileged people.  Although he continued to uphold the right of unions to organize and strike, he detested violence and the increasing volume of labor complaints.  He refused to hear a last minute stay of execution for Sacco and Vanzetti, and was privately dismissive of their case.  His greatest source of frustration on the court was Justice Brandeis, a confirmed liberal. 

He became good friends with another Unitarian Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes – they even walked to court together – although they frequently disagreed on cases.  Taft later said of Holmes, "I am very fond of the old gentleman, but he is so completely under the control of Brother Brandeis that it gives to Brandeis two votes instead of one."[24]

Now, I don't think that Holmes was in any way under the "control of Brandeis".  Holmes just agreed with him.  I was interested to read that Taft was irritated by embarrassing dissenting decisions, and regularly attempt to achieve unanimity - something I wouldn't even think of considering on the Supreme Court.  Overall Taft preferred harmony, even if deeper issues of justice were sacrificed.  He wanted law and order.  These are not traits we honor in our Unitarian heroes, which could well be one reason Taft is often forgotten.  He was not progressive.  He was not entertaining.  He was a conservative civil servant and institutionalist.  He was very Cincinnati.

On March 8, 1930 William Howard Taft, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and former President of the United Sates died.  He was 73 years old. 

I like Taft.  Yes, I wish he was progressive as a Supreme Court Justice.  I wish he had a better understanding of working people.  I wish he hadn't served in the Philippines in an imperialistic capacity.  I wish he hadn't engaged the famous pacifist Unitarian John Haynes Holmes in an argument about war on the floor of the 1917 General Conference Assembly and helped push Holmes out of the Association.  I wish he had listened to his own personal reservations about involvement in the Philippines, and about serving as President.

But I still like Taft.  He had limitations, but for all of his years of public service he was never embroiled in a political scandal, during a time when corruption was rampant in politics and business.  He was insightful, honest, loyal, kind, and good-natured.  He wasn't heroic, but he was human in the best ways possible.

He did small yet big things, like attending the re-dedication of Woodward High School in 1908, the day after his election to the Presidency, when he could barely speak.  He served on a church committee while being one of the most influential people in Washington D.C.   He kept the faith he believed even when it was politically prudent to change it.  He attended his brother's funeral even though he was too sick to go, and shortly thereafter died.  Over and over again he acted as an exemplary civil servant, friend, and family member.

Because Taft's life was so public, he is an open example.  I think that more of us are more like him than we would care to admit.  Most of us compromise in ways that concern us.  I hope that most of us are as honorable as he was.  Taft holds for me the dual lesson that I must be my own conscience and listen to my inner voice, and that yes, Unitarianism is a profound guiding influence on how to be an extraordinarily giving civil servant and good human being.  Perhaps if we could combine the loyal, honest civil service of Taft with the progressive vision of Emerson, Fuller, or Parker, we would have the best of all that Unitarian Universalism has to offer.

Reading:

William Howard Taft, from "The Religious Convictions of an American Citizen" (1915)

My father and mother were Unitarians; my other's mother was a Unitarian who followed Channing.  Liberal religion was therefore bred in my bones.  After a life of nearly threescore and of a not inconsiderable contact with many religions, I do not find my views changed as to the profound importance both of maintaining the Christian religion as an indispensable element in the progress of civilization to better and higher ideals and of the persistent upholding of liberality in Christian religious thought as a means of stimulating and elevating the lives of those whose faith in a strictly orthodox creed has failed and who, but for a broader religious outlook, might drift into indifference and lose the inspiration of religion that all men need.  Now, what are Unitarians? Are they Christians?  Of course, that is a matter of definition.  If a man can be a Christian only when he believes in the literal truth of the creed as it is recited in the orthodox evangelical churches, then we Unitarians are not Christians. A Unitarian believes that Jesus Christ founded a new religion and a new religious philosophy on the love of God for man, and of men for one another, and for God, and taught it by his life and practice, with such Heaven-given sincerity, sweetness, simplicity, and all-compelling force that it lived after him in the souls of men, and became the basis for a civilization struggling toward the highest ideals. Unitarians, however, do not find the evidence of the truth of many traditions which have attached themselves to the life and history of Jesus to be strong enough to overcome the presumption against supernatural intervention in the order of nature.  They feel the life of Jesus as a man to be more helpful to them, as a religious inspiration, than if he is to be regarded as God in human form.

 Address by Carl G. Werner at Dedication of Tablet to the Memory of 
William Howard Taft.  May 12th, 1930.

 The illustrious American whose name appears on the bronze tablet which will presently be displayed, was the son of Judge A1phonso Taft, trustee of this congregation in 1876 and 1877, and Attorney General, Secretary of War, and Minister of the United States to Russia. While on the Superior Court of Cincinnati, Judge Alphonso Taft, with two other Judges who were of orthodox faiths, was called upon to decide whether a bill for Bible reading in the public schools should be upheld. Judge Taft wrote the dissenting opinion.

Along the trail thus blazed by his eminent father, a path marked by service to country, to justice, and to the cause of liberal thought, followed William H. Taft. He attended our old church at Eighth and Plum, and took part in the activities of the Unity Club, as many here present will remember. His duties to his country called him to other places and even to foreign climes; but while he rose to distinction on the bench and in the cabinet, became Governor of the Philippines, president of the United States, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he never quite severed his connection with the Cincinnati congregation. While in Washington he was affiliated with the Arlington church; but throughout all the years he remained a contributing member of ours until his recent demise.

It is our privilege to have with us on this occasion Chief Justice Taft's younger son, Charles P. Taft II, by whose hand the flag of our country which has veiled the tablet will now be drawn aside.  The words so revealed to whomsoever shall visit this place of worship, as long as this building shall stand, are as follows:

In Memory of
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
A member of this congregation honored by
his country and his church with the highest
offices within their gift
Dedicated at the Centenary of this church
May,1930.

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