Key Difference – Taft vs Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were the 26th and 27th presidents of the United States, respectively. Both were Republicans and at one point, close friends. In fact, Taft was handpicked by Roosevelt as his successor. However, despite sharing the same Republican policies, there were significant differences between Taft and Roosevelt, which eventually led to a rift between them.
Who was Taft?
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States, taking the oath of office in 1909 and serving for just one term. He was also the 10th Chief Justice of the country, serving from 1921-1931. Taft was a trusted ally of President Roosevelt, who appointed him as Secretary of War in 1900. By 1907, his candidacy for presidency was announced, and he was elected as President in 1908.
Who was Roosevelt?
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States, serving two terms from 1901-1909. Known as Teddy, the iconic Teddy bear is named after him. He was the Vice President when President McKinley was assassinated. Roosevelt is known for his “Square deal” phrase, which reassured the public that they would receive a fair deal under his presidency. Internationally, he adopted an approach of “speaking softly while carrying a long stick.” Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in negotiating peace between Russia and Japan. He openly supported and selected Taft as his successor when he was nearing the end of his 2nd term.
Key Takeaways
- Roosevelt and Taft disagreed on progressivism and on people who were important to Taft.
- Taft was in favor of an independent judiciary, which Roosevelt opposed.
- Roosevelt supported higher tariffs and a national income tax, whereas Taft preferred lower tariffs and opposed the idea of a national income tax.
