William Howard Taft birthplace: Putting our previous portly prez in perspective

Inconspicuous in Cincinnati, the modest two-story birthplace of this nation's 27th — and heaviest — president serves as the William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Taft is the only man to serve both as U.S. president and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Taft was born in the Greek Revival house in 1857 in the once extremely fashionable Mount Auburn neighborhood. Taft was destined for Republican politics: His father would become Secretary of War and U.S. Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant.

The portly Taft lived in the house, built in the 1840s, until he attended Yale University in 1874 and then returned briefly and left for good when he launched himself into politics at age 25. The 6-foot-2 Taft weighed more than 330 pounds by the time he was elected and had a special bathtub fitted into the White House — one that could accommodate four men!

The house has been restored within to appear as it did when William Howard Taft lived there. Five rooms on the first floor are restored: Taft's bedroom and four others are representative of the period. All the family portraits and many of the books are from the Taft family, although only some of the furniture belonged to the Tafts.

On the second floor, visitors can view exhibits on Taft's illustrious life. He served as president from 1909 to 1913. (Taft lost his bid for a second term when Teddy Roosevelt challenged him within the Bull Moose Party, ushering Democrat Woodrow Wilson into the White House.) Taft was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court as chief justice, fulfilling Taft's life-long ambition to serve on the High Court. He served on the Court until he resigned, due to ill health, in 1930. He died five weeks after his resignation. Taft became the first president to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

In addition, Taft also served as governor-general of the Philippines, provisional governor of Cuba (following the Spanish-American War) and Secretary of War (like his father) for President Teddy Roosevelt.

William Howard Taft wasn't the only dignitary to enter this house. President James A. Garfield visited there, too. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

In the building adjacent to Taft's birthplace is the Taft Education Center, the National Park Service has an animatronic exhibit of Taft's youngest son, Charles Phelps Taft II, relating stories about his father and family while fishing, a brief film on Taft's life and a gift shop.

The house is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours begin every 30 minutes starting on the hour and half hour. The last guided tour of the day is at 3:30 p.m.

Teachers can schedule a field trip by calling Kerry Wood at  (513) 684–3262. The National Park Service maintains online curriculum materials for teachers, including lesson plans.

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