Presidential Chronicles

Episode #254: Theodore Roosevelt #9: The Taft Rift (1908-1912)


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Theodore Roosevelt #9: The Taft Rift (1908-1912); Topics covered include: Declines to run for reelection, hand picks William Taft as successor, leaves the presidency, departs for extended Safari in Africa and vacation in Europe, returns to the U.S. and gets complaints about Taft from progressives, introduces his New Nationalism (including judicial recall), rift with Taft grows, decides to run in 1912, Republican party divides, Taft is nominated and Roosevelt claims fraud, starts third party (Progressive Party), shot on campaign trail and decides to go ahead with his speech, and Wilson wins the election of 1912


Key people: Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Elihu Root, William Taft, Gifford Pinchot, Henry Cabot Lodge, Elihu Root, Hiram Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, and John Schrank


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Presidential ChroniclesBy David Fisher