WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT: PRESIDENT AND CHIEF JUSTICE: His Enormity

» Mugwump53 - His Enormity

Yes, TR was referring to his portliness with his remark about sitting on the lid. Actually, it was a play on words (I love puns). He was expressing his confidence about Taft's ability to handle things in TR's absence, and taking an opportunity to have some fun about Taft's weight.

I had never heard about "His Enormity" before. Thanks for that peice of info.

Another story about Taft's weight involved his tenure as Governor of the Philippines. His immediate superior was Elihu Root, Secretary of War (another civilian). There was concern in Washington for Taft's health, being very overweight in a very hot climate.

Root cabled Taft: "How is your health?"

Taft cabled back that his health was good, and in fact he had just that day taken a horseback ride 25 miles into the mountains and back.

Root cabled back: "How is the horse?"

One more thing. In naming some of the civilian Secretaries of War yesterday, I forgot the most famous of them all. Edwin Stanton, who had served as Buchanan's Attorney-General before being Lincoln's Secretary of War was another civilian in a major war.

Thanks again for the info. Always love to get new stuff.

John S. Cooper
Editor, Presidents & First Ladies

-- posted by Mugwump53