Bob Taft
Encyclopedia
Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II (born January 8, 1942) is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state
of Ohio
between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton
beginning August 15, 2007.
and Blanca Duncan Noel. His grandfather was U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert A. Taft, his great-grandfather was U.S. President and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
William Howard Taft
, and his great-great-grandfather was Attorney General
and Secretary of War
Alphonso Taft
.
He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
, where he attended the Cincinnati Country Day School
through the ninth grade and graduated from The Taft School
. He attended Yale University
, where he was a member of the Yale Political Union
, and graduated with a B.A.
in government
in 1963. From 1963 to 1965, he served as a Peace Corps
volunteer, teaching in the Africa
n nation of Tanzania
. He later attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
at Princeton University
, receiving an M.A.
, again in government, in 1967. In 1976, he received his Juris Doctor
from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
.
to the Ohio House of Representatives
from 1976 to 1981, and then was Hamilton County
commissioner from 1981 to 1990. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
on the ticket with Jim Rhodes
in 1986, but was unsuccessful. In 1990, he was elected as the Ohio Secretary of State
, defeating incumbent Democrat
Sherrod Brown
. He was re-elected in 1994, defeating Democratic candidate Dan Brady
.
Lee Fisher
50-45 percent, and was reelected in 2002, defeating Democrat Tim Hagan
58-38 percent.
program, started under the Taft administration, as of 2009 was considered an enormous success in modernizing Ohio's 21st century economy. The program focuses on issuing funding for research, development, and commercialization projects to the biomedical, alternative energy, and the advanced propulsion industries and institutions, among others. Between 2003-2008 it dispersed $681 million, resulting in a $6.6 billion economic impact return and 41,300 jobs.
. Taft personally delivered the award to the institution in Cleveland. The state awarded another $8 million in 2006 from their Biomedical Research Research and Commercialization Program, which the Taft administration contributed to creating through the Third Frontier program. By 2009, the center had become recognized as a regional leader and had spun off four companies, conducted 51 clinical trials, treated over 250 patients with adult stem cells, and treated over 60 patients with other cell therapies.
Taft signed legislation creating the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program, which extended choice to students in failing schools, and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, which extended grants to 11,000 new students.
, into law in January 2005, which placed further caps on lawsuit awards in general.
from the United States who were called into service before obtaining their diploma. In November 2001, with the ensuing War on Terror
set to begin, Taft signed Ohio Senate Bill 164, called the Military Pay Bill, into law. The bill protected the benefits of state employees called into full-time active service. In 2003, he signed Ohio Senate Bill 47, introduced by Sen. Steve Stivers
, which provided additional time to soldiers on active duty to pay their property taxes, interest free. In 2004, he signed legislation renaming the "Michael A. Fox Highway" to the "Butler County Veterans Highway", and proclaimed November to be "Hire a Veteran Month" in Ohio.
In 2005, Taft signed legislation creating the Military Injury Relief Fund, which allowed taxpayers to donate a portion of their tax refund to help fund grants for injured veterans. He successfully lobbied, along with others, in 2006 to have the Royal Netherlands Air Force
join the Ohio Air National Guard in training missions in Springfield. Taft signed numerous other pieces of legislation extending benefits to service members, and in 2006 was honored with the National Guard Association of the United States
’ Charles Dick Medal of Merit
, in which the press release stated "Taft fought to ensure that Ohio’s Soldiers, Airmen and their families were
cared for in all aspects of their service, and presided over an unprecedented expansion of state
benefits for Guardmembers and their families." Ohio's adjuntant general Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt
stated about Taft that "he epitomizes what a commander-in-chief of a National Guard should be. During his term he
has stood strong with the National Guard."
His wife, Hope, started the "On the Ohio Homefront" initiative, which is an online database of businesses and charities that provide discounts and services catered toward veterans.
use 1 million USgals (3,785.4 m³) of B20 biodiesel and 30000 gallons (113,562.4 l) of E85 ethanol per year, while selecting flex-fuel vehicles for new purchases. ODOT had been using alternative fuels since 1999, and owned 193 flex-fuel vehicles when this announcement was made. Taft also mandated that ethanol tanks be constructed at all new ODOT facilities. Later in 2005, Taft urged the U.S. Congress to extend tax credits to those who install fuel cell electricity stations. As part of the Ohio Third Frontier program, $100 million in grants had already been issued for the research of fuel cells.
In early 2006, Taft announced his "Energy Action Plan", which included doubling the use of E85 ethanol in state fleets from 30000 gallons (113,562.4 l) to 60,000, increasing the use of biodiesel in state fleets by 100000 gallons (378,541.2 l) annually, while mandating the purchase of flex-fuel only vehicles for the state fleet, and allocating $3.6 million from the Energy Loan Fund to make state buildings energy efficient. The plan also called for $25 million from the Energy Loan Fund to be set aside over five years for wind turbine producing companies, and to set aside a grant of 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by wind energy. Taft called for a pilot program to create jet fuel from coal, moving Ohio's geological information on fossil fuel sources to digital formats, and reaffirming the state's commitment to FutureGen
, a clean coal initiative.
Between 1998-2007, Ohio's "green" industry sector grew at the fourth highest rate in the country, 7.3%.
", which aimed to prevent new damage to the region, and "The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact". In 2001, Taft agreed to "Annex 2001", an addition to the Great Lakes Charter
.
ed legislation passed by both houses of the Ohio General Assembly
removing the 'Plain Sight' provision from the state's concealed carry law. The bill
would have also kept The Plain Dealer from publishing the names and home addresses of licensees. Nevertheless, this provision passed into law when the General Assembly overrode his veto, the first veto override in Ohio in over 30 years.
Program figures, which has stringent standards that doesn't count all the employment positions truly lost to international trade.
, which made Ohio a first state outside the South by number of performed executions. Taft, however, granted one commutation.
to be "viewpoint discrimination", thus unconstitutional. The district court dismissed the ACLU's lawsuit, and they later withdrew their appeal from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
, assistant cabinet directors, and senior staff every two years.
In 2001, a ruling by the Ohio Ethics Commission made clear that free rounds of golf paid for by lobbyists valued over $75 were to be disclosed. Taft stated he was not aware of the opinion until 2005 after news reports surfaced about the Coingate investigation. In a 2003 questionnaire for a possible appointment to the Ohio Turnpike Commission, Thomas Noe
, at the center of the Coingate investigation, indicated to Taft he was not doing business with the state, although he had been. Taft personally notified the commission of possible disclosure failures, and offered his cooperation in correcting the issues in voluntarily triggering an investigation.
On August 17, 2005, Taft was charged with four criminal misdemeanors stemming from his failure to disclose golf
outings paid for by lobbyists, as well as some undisclosed gifts. The Associated Press
reported the total value of at least 52 undisclosed gifts as about US$5,800, they included:
See Coingate scandal.
This was the first time an Ohio governor has ever been charged with a crime while in office.
At his arraignment
in Franklin County
Municipal Court in Columbus
on August 18, Taft pleaded no contest
and was fined $4,000 plus court cost. Judge Mark Froehlich also ordered Taft to apologize to the people of Ohio as well as state employees. Taft was quoted after sentencing stating "I offer my sincere and heartfelt apology, and I hope the people will understand that these mistakes, though major and important mistakes, were done unintentionally, and I hope and pray they will accept my apology." During the sentencing it was noted that Taft had a 30-year umblemished record as a public official.
Taft's conviction was grounds under the Ohio Constitution
for impeachment
and removal from office by the Ohio General Assembly
; however, impeachment proceedings did not occur and Taft remained in office until the end of his second term.
In addition to the criminal sanctions, Taft was issued a public reprimand by the Ohio Supreme Court on December 27, 2006 for accepting and failing to report gifts and golf outings worth more than $6000.00. This reprimand was attached to Taft's license to practice law in Ohio.
The Ohio Ethics Commission found no evidence that the non-disclosed gifts were linked to political favors.
State Sen. Marc Dann
was the leading critic of the Taft administration and alleged corruption which resulted in the misdemeanor conviction. In 2005, Dann sued Taft to obtain documents relating to his administration, one of many attempts. A political witch hunt against Taft was denied, however, in 2006 when Dann sought higher office, he promoted in a campaign ad his pursuit of the Taft administration as a prime credential in his quest to become Ohio Attorney General, which he did. Dann would resign from his own scandals in 2008 as Attorney General of the state, including allegations of misusing $195,000 in campaign funds, with his aides ultimately being convicted of felony theft in office and sent to jail.
Another lead critic of Taft was Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman
, who was seeking to replace him as Governor. Following the charges against Taft in August 2005, Coleman called for Taft's resignation and said his legal situation was crippling the state government. In mid-October of that year, his wife and campaign adviser, Frankie Coleman, was charged with DUI after hitting a parked truck while driving three times over the legal limit, crippling the Coleman For Governor campaign as he withdrew the following month, citing family issues.
After the fallout from his conviction, Taft called for a ban on executive-level government officials from accepting gifts of any amount from lobbyists.
, giving him quite possibly the lowest polled approval rating ever by a United States politician. A SurveyUSA
poll that same month gave Taft a rating of 18 percent. A late-2005 article in Time named him as one of the three worst governors in the country.
for the Ohio governorship, Taft was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term. According to the Washington Post, Taft was the most unpopular Governor in Ohio history. Taft's unpopularity contributed to major Democratic gains in the 2006 election, including the defeat of Republican Ken Blackwell
by Democrat Ted Strickland
in the race to replace Taft as Governor.
in February 2007 where he had served as a Peace Corps
volunteer. Taft said the trip was invigorating and that the buildings where he taught and lived 40 years ago were still there.
Taft joined the University of Dayton
in August 2007 as a distinguished research associate for educational excellence. His job is to help the university launch the Center for Educational Excellence, which encourages students to study science, technology, engineering and math. "We've got to figure out how to get more students in college, and that's a challenge that I really look forward to." Thomas Lasley II, dean of the School of Education and Allied Professions, stated Taft was the first professional who refused his salary offer for being too high. Lasley was quoted "I think the more people have gotten to know him(Taft) the more they realize he is a very ethical individual".
In November 2008, he joined the Board of Directors of the Alliance for the Great Lakes
to help advance Great Lakes education and policy initiatives, such as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin Water Resources Compact, started during his tenure as Chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors
.
has been involved in Republican politics for over a century. His great-great-grandfather Alphonso Taft
was Secretary of War
, Attorney General
, and an Ambassador; his great-grandfather William Howard Taft
was President
and Chief Justice of the United States
; and his grandfather (Robert Alphonso Taft I
) and his father (Robert Taft Jr.
) were both U.S. Senators
. His first cousin, William Howard Taft IV
formerly served as chief legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State
, before resigning after the reelection of President George W. Bush
. His uncle, William Howard Taft III
was an Ambassador. His great-grand-uncle Charles Phelps Taft
was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and for a time, an owner of the Chicago Cubs
baseball team. His great-great-great-grandfather, Peter Rawson Taft, was a member of the Vermont
legislature. Other prominent relatives include Seth Chase Taft, Charles Phelps Taft II
, Peter Rawson Taft II, Henry Waters Taft, Walbridge S. Taft, and Horace Dutton Taft
. Kingsley A. Taft
was a U.S. Senator from Ohio and Chief Justice
of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Bob Taft is also related to former President George W. Bush through at least three different marriages, ranging from eighth-cousin-once-removed to 11th-cousin-once-removed, as well as being a ninth cousin of former Vice President Dick Cheney
(see Cousin chart
to understand these terms).
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
beginning August 15, 2007.
Personal background
Taft was born in 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr.Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
and Blanca Duncan Noel. His grandfather was U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert A. Taft, his great-grandfather was U.S. President and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, and his great-great-grandfather was Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
and Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
.
He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, where he attended the Cincinnati Country Day School
Cincinnati Country Day School
Cincinnati Country Day School is a private, Independent School located in Indian Hill, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati....
through the ninth grade and graduated from The Taft School
The Taft School
The Taft School is a private, coeducational prep school located in Watertown, Connecticut, USA. The school was founded by Horace Dutton Taft in 1890. It has 570 students, about 470 of whom live on the campus. Taft is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization...
. He attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was a member of the Yale Political Union
Yale Political Union
The Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
, and graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
in 1963. From 1963 to 1965, he served as a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteer, teaching in the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nation of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. He later attended the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is a professional public policy school at Princeton University. The school has granted undergraduate A.B. degrees since 1930 and graduate degrees since 1948...
at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, receiving an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, again in government, in 1967. In 1976, he received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
.
Early political career
Taft was elected as a RepublicanOhio Republican Party
The Ohio Republican Party is the Ohio state affiliate of the United States Republican Party. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio on February 13, 1854. Kevin DeWine has been chairman of the Ohio GOP since 2009...
to the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 1976 to 1981, and then was Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
commissioner from 1981 to 1990. He ran for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
The position of lieutenant governor of Ohio was established in 1852. The lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor resigns, dies in office or is removed by impeachment. Before 1852, the president of the Ohio State Senate would serve as acting governor if a vacancy in the governorship...
on the ticket with Jim Rhodes
Jim Rhodes
James Allen Rhodes was an American Republican politician from Ohio, and one of only five US state governors to serve four four-year terms in office. As governor in 1970, he decided to send National Guard troops onto the Kent State University campus, resulting in the shooting of students on May 4...
in 1986, but was unsuccessful. In 1990, he was elected as the Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
, defeating incumbent Democrat
Ohio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell Brown is the senior United States Senator from Ohio and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...
. He was re-elected in 1994, defeating Democratic candidate Dan Brady
Dan Brady
Daniel R. Brady of Cleveland, Ohio, is an American politician of the Democratic party. Brady holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science from Ohio University. An early staff member of Ohio Citizen Action, Brady was a member of the Cleveland city council from 1986 to 1996. Brady...
.
Governor of Ohio
Taft was elected Governor of Ohio in 1998, defeating DemocratOhio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, who served with Governor Ted Strickland from 2007 until 2011.He is a member of the Democratic Party.In addition to serving as Lt...
50-45 percent, and was reelected in 2002, defeating Democrat Tim Hagan
Tim Hagan
Timothy Hagan , a Democrat, is an American politician in Ohio.-Early life:Hagan was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, as one of fourteen siblings . Hagan's father, Bob, was a Trumbull County Commissioner and, later, a State Representative. After graduating from Ursuline High School...
58-38 percent.
Third Frontier
The Third FrontierThird Frontier
The Third Frontier Project is a type of economic development initiative by the State of Ohio to expand research and technology economic development in the state...
program, started under the Taft administration, as of 2009 was considered an enormous success in modernizing Ohio's 21st century economy. The program focuses on issuing funding for research, development, and commercialization projects to the biomedical, alternative energy, and the advanced propulsion industries and institutions, among others. Between 2003-2008 it dispersed $681 million, resulting in a $6.6 billion economic impact return and 41,300 jobs.
Governor's Cup awards
During Taft's tenure, Ohio was awarded the Governor's Cup twice, in 2003 and 2006. The award, selected by Site Selection Magazine, is given to the state that attracts the most business developments over $1 million, creates over 50 jobs, or constructs over 20,000 new square feet of business area during the course of a year. The honor is deemed as being considered the best state in the country for business development, attraction, and capital investment.Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
In 2003, the state awarded $19.4 million for the creation of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineCenter for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine
The Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine is a medical research institution specializing in stem cell and other cell therapy research and treatments, located in Cleveland, Ohio...
. Taft personally delivered the award to the institution in Cleveland. The state awarded another $8 million in 2006 from their Biomedical Research Research and Commercialization Program, which the Taft administration contributed to creating through the Third Frontier program. By 2009, the center had become recognized as a regional leader and had spun off four companies, conducted 51 clinical trials, treated over 250 patients with adult stem cells, and treated over 60 patients with other cell therapies.
Education
When the Taft administration took over, the state was faced with an education crisis as nearly half of students were failing mandatory tests and were attending failing districts. Taft's "Rebuilding Ohio Schools" was an ambitious project that would pour $10 billion over 12 years into new school construction. The Taft administration ultimately presided over the largest increase in education funding in state history. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Ohio student scores increased during Taft's tenure, including 4th and 8th grade math scores every period, with Ohio students scoring above the national average every period in every subject. The number of high school graduates increased, and for the 2006-2007 school year Ohio produced the most advanced percentage of 8th grade science students in the country.Taft signed legislation creating the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program, which extended choice to students in failing schools, and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, which extended grants to 11,000 new students.
Tort reform
In January 2003, Taft signed Ohio Senate Bill 281 into law, which limited non-economic damages in medical injury lawsuits. The bill limited non-economic damages to $350,000 and imposed a statute of limitations. Taft then signed Ohio Senate Bill 80, introduced by Sen. Steve StiversSteve Stivers
Steve Stivers is the U.S. Representative for He is a member of the Republican Party. Stivers previously served in the Ohio Senate, representing the 16th district...
, into law in January 2005, which placed further caps on lawsuit awards in general.
Veterans affairs
In December 2000, Taft signed House Bill 408, which designated Interstate 76 as the "The Military Order of the Purple Heart Memorial Highway". In July 2001, he signed legislation to permit school districts to award high school diplomas to veterans of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
from the United States who were called into service before obtaining their diploma. In November 2001, with the ensuing War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
set to begin, Taft signed Ohio Senate Bill 164, called the Military Pay Bill, into law. The bill protected the benefits of state employees called into full-time active service. In 2003, he signed Ohio Senate Bill 47, introduced by Sen. Steve Stivers
Steve Stivers
Steve Stivers is the U.S. Representative for He is a member of the Republican Party. Stivers previously served in the Ohio Senate, representing the 16th district...
, which provided additional time to soldiers on active duty to pay their property taxes, interest free. In 2004, he signed legislation renaming the "Michael A. Fox Highway" to the "Butler County Veterans Highway", and proclaimed November to be "Hire a Veteran Month" in Ohio.
In 2005, Taft signed legislation creating the Military Injury Relief Fund, which allowed taxpayers to donate a portion of their tax refund to help fund grants for injured veterans. He successfully lobbied, along with others, in 2006 to have the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
join the Ohio Air National Guard in training missions in Springfield. Taft signed numerous other pieces of legislation extending benefits to service members, and in 2006 was honored with the National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of the United States
The National Guard Association of the United States was founded in 1878 as a congressional lobbying organization for National Guard issues. A member of the Military Coalition, NGAUS lobbies on behalf of 45,000 officers who comprise the membership of the organization...
’ Charles Dick Medal of Merit
Charles Dick Medal of Merit
The Charles Dick Medal of Merit is awarded by the National Guard Association of the United States to elected officials in recognition of their contributions toward the National Guard. It was established in 1988 and named in honor Charles Dick, a Major General from the Ohio National Guard....
, in which the press release stated "Taft fought to ensure that Ohio’s Soldiers, Airmen and their families were
cared for in all aspects of their service, and presided over an unprecedented expansion of state
benefits for Guardmembers and their families." Ohio's adjuntant general Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt
Gregory L. Wayt
Major General Gregory L. Wayt served as Adjutant General under Governors Bob Taft and Ted Strickland. Major General Wayt retired from the military on December 31, 2010 after 35 years of service...
stated about Taft that "he epitomizes what a commander-in-chief of a National Guard should be. During his term he
has stood strong with the National Guard."
His wife, Hope, started the "On the Ohio Homefront" initiative, which is an online database of businesses and charities that provide discounts and services catered toward veterans.
Highway construction
In 2003, Taft unveiled his "Jobs and Progress Plan", which was a $5 billion, 10-year agenda to improve Ohio's highways and roads. Among the notable projects were the $97 million Wilmington Bypass project, the $1 billion Cleveland Inner Belt project, and the $220 million Veterans' Glass City Skyway in Toledo.Taxes
In 2003, Taft signed legislation enacting the largest tax increase in state history, a temporary two-year, 1% sales tax which generated $2.9 billion in revenue during the national recession. In 2005, Taft signed major tax reform, including a 21% personal income tax cut over five years, a reduction of the sales tax by .5%, elimination of the corporate franchise tax over five years, and the elimination of the personal tangible property tax over four years. The legislation also included nominal tax credit increases, including $50 for personal and dependent exemptions, and $88 in deductions for deposits made into Ohio Medical Savings Accounts. In 2006, Taft signed Substitute House Bill 49, which provided a 25% tax credit for historic rehabilitation projects.Alternative energy and Energy Action Plan
In 2001, Taft, along with other state leaders, met in Cleveland to unify in calling on the U.S. Congress to grant a funding request for the NASA Glenn Research Center, which was researching projects that included alternative and more efficient energy, and to designate NASA Glenn for the leadership role in biotechnology research. In 2005, Taft mandated that the Ohio Department of TransportationOhio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation is the organization of state government responsible for developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the state of Ohio with exception of the Ohio Turnpike. In addition to highways, the department also helps develop public transportation and...
use 1 million USgals (3,785.4 m³) of B20 biodiesel and 30000 gallons (113,562.4 l) of E85 ethanol per year, while selecting flex-fuel vehicles for new purchases. ODOT had been using alternative fuels since 1999, and owned 193 flex-fuel vehicles when this announcement was made. Taft also mandated that ethanol tanks be constructed at all new ODOT facilities. Later in 2005, Taft urged the U.S. Congress to extend tax credits to those who install fuel cell electricity stations. As part of the Ohio Third Frontier program, $100 million in grants had already been issued for the research of fuel cells.
In early 2006, Taft announced his "Energy Action Plan", which included doubling the use of E85 ethanol in state fleets from 30000 gallons (113,562.4 l) to 60,000, increasing the use of biodiesel in state fleets by 100000 gallons (378,541.2 l) annually, while mandating the purchase of flex-fuel only vehicles for the state fleet, and allocating $3.6 million from the Energy Loan Fund to make state buildings energy efficient. The plan also called for $25 million from the Energy Loan Fund to be set aside over five years for wind turbine producing companies, and to set aside a grant of 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced by wind energy. Taft called for a pilot program to create jet fuel from coal, moving Ohio's geological information on fossil fuel sources to digital formats, and reaffirming the state's commitment to FutureGen
FutureGen
FutureGen is a US government project announced by President George W. Bush in 2003; its initial plan involved the construction of a near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant to produce hydrogen and electricity while using carbon capture and storage....
, a clean coal initiative.
Between 1998-2007, Ohio's "green" industry sector grew at the fourth highest rate in the country, 7.3%.
Great Lakes initiatives
Taft spent considerable time during his administration promoting the Great Lakes, which included lobbying the U.S. Congress for funding devoted to restoration projects, and signing pacts that included 8 Great Lakes states and 2 Canadian provinces to preserve the area. These pacts included the "The Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes", which called for a $20 billion investment, cleanup, and renewal of the lakes, the "The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources AgreementThe Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement
The Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement is a good-faith agreement among the Governors of the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and the Premiers of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec...
", which aimed to prevent new damage to the region, and "The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact". In 2001, Taft agreed to "Annex 2001", an addition to the Great Lakes Charter
Great Lakes Charter
The Great Lakes Charter is a good-faith agreement among the Governors of the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and the Premiers of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The charter outlines a series of principles to...
.
Concealed carry
In February 2006 Taft vetoVeto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
ed legislation passed by both houses of the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
removing the 'Plain Sight' provision from the state's concealed carry law. The bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
would have also kept The Plain Dealer from publishing the names and home addresses of licensees. Nevertheless, this provision passed into law when the General Assembly overrode his veto, the first veto override in Ohio in over 30 years.
Spending and economy
Taft was criticized during his tenure for permitting state spending and state taxes to rise. Critics also argued that Taft was responsible for the lagging Ohio economy in the early 21st century, despite federal trade policies that were out of his control, resulting in the loss of 13,432 employment positions to international trade alone in 2006, and 71,242 employment positions lost overall between 1995-2006. Those figues are based on the Trade Adjustment AssistanceTrade adjustment assistance
Trade Adjustment Assistance is a program of the United States Department of Labor, , and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The DOL program, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers, provides a variety of reemployment services and benefits to workers who have lost their jobs or suffered a reduction...
Program figures, which has stringent standards that doesn't count all the employment positions truly lost to international trade.
Capital punishment
Taft presided over the reintroduction of capital punishment in Ohio. During his term 24 people were put to death by lethal injectionLethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
, which made Ohio a first state outside the South by number of performed executions. Taft, however, granted one commutation.
NARAL v. Taft
Taft was the subject of a federal lawsuit in 2005, NARAL v. Taft, over his decision to allow "Choose Life" license plates to be sold by the state to raise funds for pregnancy crisis centers and adoption centers. They were considered by the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
to be "viewpoint discrimination", thus unconstitutional. The district court dismissed the ACLU's lawsuit, and they later withdrew their appeal from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Criminal conviction
In 1999, Taft issued a gubernatorial executive order mandating four hours of ethics training for members of his cabinetCabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, assistant cabinet directors, and senior staff every two years.
In 2001, a ruling by the Ohio Ethics Commission made clear that free rounds of golf paid for by lobbyists valued over $75 were to be disclosed. Taft stated he was not aware of the opinion until 2005 after news reports surfaced about the Coingate investigation. In a 2003 questionnaire for a possible appointment to the Ohio Turnpike Commission, Thomas Noe
Thomas Noe
Thomas W. Noe is an Ohio Republican party fundraiser and activist, guilty of money laundering for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign and of theft and corruption in the "Coingate scandal"...
, at the center of the Coingate investigation, indicated to Taft he was not doing business with the state, although he had been. Taft personally notified the commission of possible disclosure failures, and offered his cooperation in correcting the issues in voluntarily triggering an investigation.
On August 17, 2005, Taft was charged with four criminal misdemeanors stemming from his failure to disclose golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
outings paid for by lobbyists, as well as some undisclosed gifts. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported the total value of at least 52 undisclosed gifts as about US$5,800, they included:
- Two undisclosed gifts including golf with coin dealer Thomas NoeThomas NoeThomas W. Noe is an Ohio Republican party fundraiser and activist, guilty of money laundering for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign and of theft and corruption in the "Coingate scandal"...
, a Republican fundraiser then under investigation, and later convicted, for his handling of a $50 million investment of state money in rare coins, and diverting $2 million to personal use. Taft said of Tom Noe that "“He fooled people from one end of Ohio to the other.”
See Coingate scandal.
- Six undisclosed gifts including golf outings with political strategist Curt Steiner and Robert Massie, president of chemical services giant CASChemical Abstracts ServiceChemical Abstracts is a periodical index that provides summaries and indexes of disclosures in recently published scientific documents. Approximately 8,000 journals, technical reports, dissertations, conference proceedings, and new books, in any of 50 languages, are monitored yearly, as are patent...
, worth $700. Taft later lobbied the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services against expanding scientific directories that would compete with CAS.
- Undisclosed gifts including dinner and Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
hockey tickets from Jerry Jurgeson, chief executive officer of Nationwide Insurance
- book and artwork from the consulate general of the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
worth $100
- a photograph and framed medal from the Defense Supply CenterDefense Supply Center, ColumbusThe Defense Supply Center, Columbus, also called DSCC, is one of three Inventory Control Points of the Defense Logistics Agency. The major organization on base is known as DLA Land and Maritime. Defense Finance and Accounting Service is also a major tenant on base. The base has been affected...
worth $85
- a portfolio and clothing worth $119 from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
This was the first time an Ohio governor has ever been charged with a crime while in office.
At his arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
in Franklin County
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
Municipal Court in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
on August 18, Taft pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
and was fined $4,000 plus court cost. Judge Mark Froehlich also ordered Taft to apologize to the people of Ohio as well as state employees. Taft was quoted after sentencing stating "I offer my sincere and heartfelt apology, and I hope the people will understand that these mistakes, though major and important mistakes, were done unintentionally, and I hope and pray they will accept my apology." During the sentencing it was noted that Taft had a 30-year umblemished record as a public official.
Taft's conviction was grounds under the Ohio Constitution
Ohio Constitution
The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which in 1803 became the 17th state to join the United States of America. Ohio has had two constitutions since statehood was granted....
for impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
and removal from office by the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
; however, impeachment proceedings did not occur and Taft remained in office until the end of his second term.
In addition to the criminal sanctions, Taft was issued a public reprimand by the Ohio Supreme Court on December 27, 2006 for accepting and failing to report gifts and golf outings worth more than $6000.00. This reprimand was attached to Taft's license to practice law in Ohio.
The Ohio Ethics Commission found no evidence that the non-disclosed gifts were linked to political favors.
Marc Dann and Michael B. Coleman
State Sen. Marc Dann
Marc Dann
Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann (born March 12, 1962, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University, and practiced law in Youngstown,...
was the leading critic of the Taft administration and alleged corruption which resulted in the misdemeanor conviction. In 2005, Dann sued Taft to obtain documents relating to his administration, one of many attempts. A political witch hunt against Taft was denied, however, in 2006 when Dann sought higher office, he promoted in a campaign ad his pursuit of the Taft administration as a prime credential in his quest to become Ohio Attorney General, which he did. Dann would resign from his own scandals in 2008 as Attorney General of the state, including allegations of misusing $195,000 in campaign funds, with his aides ultimately being convicted of felony theft in office and sent to jail.
Another lead critic of Taft was Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman
Michael B. Coleman
Michael B. Coleman is an American politician of the Democratic Party, the 52nd and current mayor of Columbus, Ohio. He is the first African-American mayor of Ohio's capital....
, who was seeking to replace him as Governor. Following the charges against Taft in August 2005, Coleman called for Taft's resignation and said his legal situation was crippling the state government. In mid-October of that year, his wife and campaign adviser, Frankie Coleman, was charged with DUI after hitting a parked truck while driving three times over the legal limit, crippling the Coleman For Governor campaign as he withdrew the following month, citing family issues.
Ethics reform
After the fallout from his conviction, Taft called for a ban on executive-level government officials from accepting gifts of any amount from lobbyists.
Polling
In the wake of convictions for the ethics violations (see criminal conviction), Taft's approval rating bottomed out at 6.5 percent, according to a late November 2005 poll by ZogbyZogby International
IBOPE Zogby International is an international market research, opinion polling firm founded in 1984 by John Zogby. The company polls and consults for a wide spectrum of business media, government, and political groups, and conducts public opinion research in more than 70 countries...
, giving him quite possibly the lowest polled approval rating ever by a United States politician. A SurveyUSA
SurveyUSA
SurveyUSA is a polling firm in the United States. It conducts market research for corporations and interest groups, but is best known for conducting opinion polls for various political offices and questions...
poll that same month gave Taft a rating of 18 percent. A late-2005 article in Time named him as one of the three worst governors in the country.
Ohio Republican losses
Due to term limitsTerm limits in the United States
Term limits in the United States apply to many offices at both the federal and state level, and date back to the American Revolution.-Pre-constitution:...
for the Ohio governorship, Taft was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term. According to the Washington Post, Taft was the most unpopular Governor in Ohio history. Taft's unpopularity contributed to major Democratic gains in the 2006 election, including the defeat of Republican Ken Blackwell
Ken Blackwell
John Kenneth Blackwell is an American politician and activist who served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio from 1979 to 1980 and Ohio Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. A Republican, he was the first African-American to be the candidate for governor of a major party in Ohio. In 2006, Blackwell...
by Democrat Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
in the race to replace Taft as Governor.
Post Gubernatorial activities
After Taft left the governorship, he and his wife made a trip to TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
in February 2007 where he had served as a Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteer. Taft said the trip was invigorating and that the buildings where he taught and lived 40 years ago were still there.
Taft joined the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
in August 2007 as a distinguished research associate for educational excellence. His job is to help the university launch the Center for Educational Excellence, which encourages students to study science, technology, engineering and math. "We've got to figure out how to get more students in college, and that's a challenge that I really look forward to." Thomas Lasley II, dean of the School of Education and Allied Professions, stated Taft was the first professional who refused his salary offer for being too high. Lasley was quoted "I think the more people have gotten to know him(Taft) the more they realize he is a very ethical individual".
In November 2008, he joined the Board of Directors of the Alliance for the Great Lakes
Alliance for the Great Lakes
The Alliance for the Great Lakes was originally founded in 1970 by Lee Botts as the Lake Michigan Federation, which Botts had established a year earlier as a project of The Openlands Project in Chicago. The purpose of the Lake Michigan Federation was to promote awareness and policy to protect and...
to help advance Great Lakes education and policy initiatives, such as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin Water Resources Compact, started during his tenure as Chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors
Council of Great Lakes Governors
-History:The Council of Great Lakes Governors is an organization of Great Lakes Governors dedicated to promoting regional cooperation.The Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin created the Council of Great Lakes Governors in 1983...
.
Family
The Taft familyTaft family
The Taft family of the United States hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, with historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions, such as Governor of Ohio, Governor of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator , U.S...
has been involved in Republican politics for over a century. His great-great-grandfather Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft
Alphonso Taft was the Attorney General and Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant and the founder of an American political dynasty. He was the father of U.S...
was Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
, Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
, and an Ambassador; his great-grandfather William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
was President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Chief Justice of the United States
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
; and his grandfather (Robert Alphonso Taft I
Robert Taft
Robert Alphonso Taft , of the Taft political family of Cincinnati, was a Republican United States Senator and a prominent conservative statesman...
) and his father (Robert Taft Jr.
Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
) were both U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. His first cousin, William Howard Taft IV
William Howard Taft IV
William Howard Taft IV is an attorney who has served in the United States government under several Republican administrations. He is the son of William Howard Taft III and the great-grandson of U.S. President William Howard Taft....
formerly served as chief legal advisor to the U.S. Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, before resigning after the reelection of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. His uncle, William Howard Taft III
William Howard Taft III
William Howard Taft III was the grandson of William Howard Taft and served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Ireland from 1953 to 1957. His task was made easier by the fact that John A. Costello, Taoiseach 1954-57 was a personal friend; Taft described Costello as "pleasant and unassuming"...
was an Ambassador. His great-grand-uncle Charles Phelps Taft
Charles Phelps Taft
Charles Phelps Taft I was an American lawyer and politician.-Biography:He was born on December 21, 1843 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Alphonso Taft, and his brother was President William Howard Taft....
was a U.S. Representative from Ohio and for a time, an owner of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
baseball team. His great-great-great-grandfather, Peter Rawson Taft, was a member of the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
legislature. Other prominent relatives include Seth Chase Taft, Charles Phelps Taft II
Charles Phelps Taft II
Charles Phelps Taft II was a U.S. Republican Party politician and member of the Taft family. From 1955 to 1957, he served as Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. Like other members of his family, Taft was a Republican for the purposes of state-wide elections. However, when running for municipal office in...
, Peter Rawson Taft II, Henry Waters Taft, Walbridge S. Taft, and Horace Dutton Taft
Horace Dutton Taft
Horace Dutton Taft was an American educator, and the founder of The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, United States.He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, the younger brother of William Howard Taft of the powerful Taft family...
. Kingsley A. Taft
Kingsley A. Taft
Kingsley Arter Taft was an American politician and distant relative of Ohio's more famous Taft family. He served as chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and also served briefly as a United States Senator. Kingsley's father, Frederick Lovett Taft, II was also a noted figure in the Ohio legal...
was a U.S. Senator from Ohio and Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
The office of Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court was created in 1912 as an elected office with a term of six years. Prior to this, there were Chief Judges. The office is currently held by Maureen O'Connor.-Chief Judges of the Ohio Supreme Court:...
of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Bob Taft is also related to former President George W. Bush through at least three different marriages, ranging from eighth-cousin-once-removed to 11th-cousin-once-removed, as well as being a ninth cousin of former Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
(see Cousin chart
Cousin chart
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
to understand these terms).