William Howard Taft had a long and distinguished career of public service. Four different presidents appointed him to judicial, diplomatic, or Cabinet (presidential advisory) positions. He achieved his main ambition when he was named chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1921.

Taft was less successful in his role as president. "I am entirely content to serve in the ranks," he wrote to a supporter who wanted Taft to run again for president in 1916. He had been soundly beaten in his bid for reelection in 1912.

The United States was undergoing tremendous economic growth during the first decade of the twentieth century when Taft was president. An increasingly profitable group of manufacturing, financial, and transportation corporations dominated American business. In response to such collection of wealth, a strong political trend called progressivism arose to promote legislation that would monitor business practices and improve social...