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The Taft Presidency

The Taft Presidency. Ms. Jerome. Progressive Presidents. Theodore Roosevelt. Believed a president should take an active role as an arbiter between the demands of laborers and profit-driven businesses. Taft.

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The Taft Presidency

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  1. The Taft Presidency Ms. Jerome

  2. Progressive Presidents

  3. Theodore Roosevelt • Believed a president should take an active role as an arbiter between the demands of laborers and profit-driven businesses

  4. Taft • When Roosevelt’s second term ended, he endorsed his confidant William Howard Taft as his successor.

  5. A divide in the Republican Party • Four issues eventually divided the Republican party: • The Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) • The Ballinger-Pinchot controversy (1910) • Taft’s antitrust suit against U.S. Steel (1911)

  6. Taft • The Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909)—Supported a high protective tariff which benefits big business • Fired TR’s longtime friend and chief forester Gifford Pinchot • 1907—U.S. Steel illegally purchased the bankrupt Tennessee Coal and Iron company • Roosevelt had personally approved this trust • Believed it was necessary to prevent a financial collapse on Wall Street • Taft attacked the U.S. Steel corporation • Indirect attack on Roosevelt

  7. The Payne-Aldrich Tariff (1909) • What is a tariff? • Would big-business support a tariff? Why or why not? • Lamely supported a high protective tariff (40% tax on imports) • Conservative decision

  8. The Ballinger-Pinchot controversy (1910) • Taft named Richard Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior • Ballinger was convinced that TR used too much power to put land into reserves • Ballinger began the process of opening some tracts of land to commercial users. • He butted heads with the Chief Forester and long term friend of TR, Gifford Pinchot • Taft fired Pinchot—enraged TR

  9. Firing of Pinchot • Left impression that Taft was not interested in conservation • HOWEVER… Pinchot’s successor as chief forester expanded conservation project • Firing Pinchot…damage was done.

  10. Taft’s antitrust suit against U.S. Steel • 1907—U.S. Steel illegally purchased the bankrupt Tennessee Coal and Iron company • Roosevelt had personally approved this trust • Believed it was necessary to prevent a financial collapse on Wall Street • Taft attacked the U.S. Steel corporation • Indirect attack on Roosevelt

  11. Teddy Roosevelt • Thought Taft couldn’t distinguish a good trust form a bad trust.

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