Object Details
Artist
William Valentine Schevill, 1864 - 1951
Sitter
William Howard Taft, 15 Sep 1857 - 8 Mar 1930
Exhibition Label
Twenty-seventh president, 1909–1913
William Howard Taft felt determined to follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, particularly with regard to implementing domestic reform, but Taft—an indecisive leader—was largely unsuccessful in meeting this goal. When he presented his tariff reform package, Congress put forth more than eight hundred amendments that made it almost impossible to pass, and he did nothing to object. He did, however, achieve one significant reform legislation, the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910, which regulated destructive competition and unfair trade practices.
Also, ninety-nine trust prosecutions were conducted while he was in office. Nevertheless, when Taft was halfway through his presidency, he had become heavily influenced by conservative businessmen who criticized the effects of trust-busting on the national economy. In the end, he reversed his position on tariff reform and therefore alienated progressives who viewed high tariffs as the worst offending characteristic of trusts.
27o presidente, 1909–1913
William Howard Taft aspiraba a seguir el ejemplo de Theodore Roosevelt, sobre todo en la implantación de reformas en el ámbito nacional, pero era un líder indeciso, y no tuvo mucho éxito en esa meta. Cuando presentó su propuesta para la reforma tarifaria, el Congreso añadió más de ochocientas enmiendas que hacían su aprobación casi imposible, pero Taft no hizo nada para objetar. Sin embargo, sí logró una importante ley de reforma, la Ley Mann-Elkins de 1910, que regulaba la competencia destructiva y las prácticas injustas en el comercio.
Asimismo, durante su administración se registraron noventa y nueve procesos legales contra monopolios. Sin embargo, hacia la mitad de su término, Taft se vio muy influenciado por negociantes conservadores que criticaban los efectos de las normas antimonopolio en la economía nacional. Terminó por revertir su postura respecto a la reforma tarifaria y con ello se enemistó con los progresistas que veían las altas tarifas como la peor característica de los monopolios.
Provenance
William E. Schevill, Concord, Mass., son of the artist; gift to NPG 1972.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of William E. Schevill
Date
c. 1910
Object number
NPG.72.25
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on artist board
Dimensions
Frame: 120 x 109.5 x 3.8cm (47 1/4 x 43 1/8 x 1 1/2")
Stretcher: 84.9 × 74.9cm (33 7/16 × 29 1/2")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Exhibition
America's Presidents - Current
On View
NPG, West Gallery 210
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
William Howard Taft: Male
William Howard Taft: Law and Crime\Lawyer
William Howard Taft: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
William Howard Taft: Politics and Government\Government official
William Howard Taft: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University
William Howard Taft: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
William Howard Taft: Law and Crime\Judge\Justice\US Supreme Court Justice\Chief Justice of US
William Howard Taft: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator\Dean
William Howard Taft: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\Law
William Howard Taft: Politics and Government\Government official\Governor\Territorial Governor
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.72.25