William Taft and a Lack of Progressivism †Government (300 Level Course)

William Taft and a Lack of Progressivism – Government (300 Level Course) Free Online Research Papers William Taft and a Lack of Progressivism Government (300 Level Course) William Howard Taft became the twenty seventh president in 1909; handpicked by Theodore Roosevelt to carry on the Progressive torch of the Republican Party. While some argue that Taft was not the best choice, that perhaps Roosevelt’s Secretary of State Elihu Root or Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York would be better progressives, many scholars believe that Roosevelt chose Taft for one main reason: he was a â€Å"yes-man.† Even though he later denied it, many people felt that Taft was selected so that Roosevelt could still exercise power through him, without actually being in office. Taft was a supposed Progressive leader and maintained this position throughout his tenure in office. However his four years in office demonstrated the presidency of a far more conservative than progressive leader. While most authors agree on the fact that even if Taft is to be considered Progressive, he is much less progressive than his predecessor, they disagree on the way Taft handled the battles that arose between progressive and conservative Republicans. Donald Anderson writes that â€Å"Taft used his patronage powers to punish leaders like La Follete and Cummins who vindictively opposed the administration’s program.† This statement is in direct response to the issue of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff. The progressives, led by La Follete and Cummins, were upset that the proposed tariff, once in the hands of Speaker of the House Joe Cannon and the conservatives, was attacked by protectionists and changed in 847 ways. These results of these changes raised the tariff in ways thought to be protective for the United States. Theodore Roosevelt assured the progressives that Taft would surely veto the bill, which would have been a slap in the face to the progressives. However, Taft did not veto the bill, instead he pledged that he â€Å"would not take into consideration any of the progressive recommendations unless they (progressives) make it known that they are not engaged in attacking me or my administration.† In this account of events, Anderson shows two parts of the story that do not seem to corroborate with other accounts. Taft seems to feel that the progressives are directly threatening his authority even though he is supposed to share their views, after all he was a progressive and Roosevelt’s right hand man. Also, Anderson portrays Taft as being assertive in his decision to not tolerate the progressives or their plight. Whatever actually happened surrounding this event notwithstanding, other accounts to not coincide with those of Taft acting confidently and aggressively. Another historian, Nathan Miller takes a slightly different viewpoint on this same topic. While Miller sympathizes with Taft for having to follow in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt, he weaves a somewhat different story about president Taft. Miller describes Taft as a progressive but only up to a certain point. It is at that point then where Taft draws the line. Taft was often said to be so wracked by self doubt that he would walk the White House late at night unable to sleep. Miller paints William Taft as a totally dependent politician and a man incapable of being the president described by Anderson. Miller talks of Taft’s dependence first on Roosevelt and then on leaders such as Aldrich and Cannon. He goes on to say that â€Å"Taft lacked both the will and the stomach to get his own way in any battle such as this. Having been a yes man in Roosevelt’s cabinet, he inevitably became one for the party regulars.† It becomes this lack of support for progres sives, and ultimately therefore support for Roosevelt that effectively ends their political relationship. I agree with the latter depiction of president William Taft and his role as a progressive leader of American politics. It may be true that he was the victim of being Roosevelt’s successor. Yet still I feel that he demonstrated weak leadership qualities and when the fights broke out he abandoned camp and sought shelter within the party ranks. By doing this he effectively bit the hand that fed him in Theodore Roosevelt, a man that he was extremely loyal to and whom handed him the baton of dynamic presidential leadership, a baton in which he fumbled. He did not have Roosevelt’s integrity, his leadership, his grace, or his political prowess. While he later proved to be a honorable chief justice, one whom possessed a well organized, well honed legal mind, he simply lacked the backbone and integrity needed to be successful in elected and not appointed office. In these ways I have found William Taft to be both a poor progressive and a poor president. William Howard Taft came into the office of the president in 1909 with the world at his feet, and left office miserably four years later after only winning two states and eight electoral votes. It was the worst defeat ever suffered by an incumbent president. Theodore Roosevelt gave him the presidency and the popularity of the American people and he could do little with it but squander it almost entirely. While opinions may vary on his presidency, it is almost certainly clear that it was far from a growing success story. He did enjoy perhaps the most productive career of any ex-president after being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1921 by president Warren Harding. Yet his presidency will still be remember for doing little for the country and eventually being passed up by a country that voted in 1912 over three-quarters progressive. Taft’s presidency took office on a high and ended by giving the office back to the Democrats for the first time in sixteen years. Nathan M iller therefore granted Taft the dubious honor of being his â€Å"eighth worst president of the United States.† One thing is for certain however, the fact that William Howard Taft earned it. Research Papers on William Taft and a Lack of Progressivism - Government (300 Level Course)Trailblazing by Eric AndersonQuebec and Canada19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraMind TravelBringing Democracy to AfricaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2The Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsResearch Process Part OneBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs in All Tenses

Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs in All Tenses For an English language learner, regular verbs are consistent and easier to learn than irregular verbs. The main difference between regular and irregular verbs is in the past participle and past simple. For regular verbs, you just have to add -ed for both the past participle and past simple: I visited my friends in Milan. (past simple)Shes visited her friends in Milan throughout the years. (present perfect)   Irregular verbs, on the other hand, are more complicated and often need to be studied individually because they dont follow a single pattern. The following example sentences in all tenses will help students learn irregular verb forms in context. Example Sentences Using Irregular Verbs Click on one of the irregular verbs listed below for example sentences using the verbs in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. To help you choose the verb you need, each verb includes three example sentences  to get you started. be  / was / were / been Tom was in New York yesterday.Ive been at this job for a long time.Shell be at the party next weekend. beat /  beat / beaten We beat the home team yesterday.Ive never beaten Tom at chess.Do you think you could beat him? become  / became / become Jason has become an excellent doctor.Ill become your friend if you move here.The situation became a problem for Bob. begin  / began / begun They havent begun the play yet.I began to work early this morning.Shell begin to explain in a moment. bend  / bent / bent He bent the branch until it broke.The flag poll bends in the wind.Ive bent the nail in the board.   break  / broke / broken My boy has broken three windows this week!I broke that window last week.She usually breaks the egg over the sink.   buy  / bought / bought Janice bought a new watch last week.I usually buy my vegetables at a country stand.Hes bought more than 10 cars in his life.   come  / came / come We came home earlier yesterday.He comes to class on time every day.Hes come across that song before.   cut  / cut / cut How many  pieces have you cut?I cut my finger on a glass yesterday.The boy never cuts his own steak. draw  / drew / drawn She drew a beautiful picture in class.Jackie has drawn a few clowns this week.Shell draw the money from the account tomorrow.   drink / drank / drunk I was so thirsty I drank two bottles of water.Have you drunk any water yet?Ill drink something when I get there.   drive  /  drove / driven Have you ever driven across the U.S.?I drove to the basketball game after work.Hes going to drive to the airport this evening.   eat /  ate / eaten We ate lunch early today.Have you eaten already?Where did you eat dinner yesterday? find  / found / found Have you found him yet?I found this book on that table over there.Ill find him, dont worry! fly /  flew / flown Cheryl flew to Brazil last month.Have you ever flown around the world?Hes going to fly a commercial airliner someday. forget  / forgot / forgotten (U.S.)  - forgot (UK) Have you forgotten that you had an appointment?I forgot my pen at home. Can I borrow yours?Youll have forgotten by the time you get home.   give /  gave / given   They gave us an early appointment.Hes given up on trying to learn Japanese.Ill give you a call next week.   go  / went / gone Have you ever gone on vacation alone?Shes going to ride the bus to work today.I went to the party last week.   grow /  grew / grown   She grew up very poor.The plants have all grown.Did you grow that plant? have  / had / had I had some toast for breakfast.Ive had some extra free time this week.Shell have the package ready when you come.   hit /  hit / hit Hes hit me three times!Bob hit the ball out of the park last night.He usually hits his nine iron well. hold  / held / held   She held on tightly and entered the tunnel.Ive held her hand before.Hold on for a few more minutes.   keep /  kept / kept Have you kept your word to Peter?John kept the door open for his mother.Ill keep your secret. know  / knew / known I knew that once ...Ive known my best friend for more than 40 years.Peter will know the answer.   learn /  learned (learnt UK) / learned (learnt UK) Have you learnt (learned) anything yet?He learned his lesson last week.This has been learned for ages.   leave  / left / left   We left the book at home.Hes left the house early this morning.Well leave as soon as you get home.   lose  / lost / lost I lost my watch yesterday.Shes never lost her purse.Theyll lose patience if you dont hurry up.   make / made / made I made the bed before I left.Ive made some tea. Would you like some?Will he make the meeting next week? meet / met / met Have you met Jack?Were going to meet at 3 oclock next week.He met his wife in Hawaii.   pay  / paid / paid He paid by credit card.Ill pay the bill and we can leave.Janet is paid by the hour.   put  / put / put She put on a CD and relaxed for the afternoon.Ive put in for a new job.Shell put him up for the night.   ride  / rode / ridden Mary rode the bus to work.Ive ridden a bike all my life.Shell ride with Tim to the party.   run  / ran / run I ran four miles yesterday.Weve run out of milk, so Ill go to the store.David usually runs two miles a day. see  / saw / seen Have you seen Angie yet?I saw the film last week.Shes going to see her friend next weekend.   If youd like to check your knowledge, take this  English irregular verbs quiz.