William Howard Taft : diplomatic trouble-shooter

Abstract

William Howard Taft is remembered as President of the United States and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, Taft made a significant contribution as special diplomatic envoy or trouble-shooter for the President. Taft first gained national recognition from his service in the Philippines, as head of the Philippine Commission and then first Civil Governor. He demonstrated those qualities which contributed to his success in the Philippines, and later as diplomatic trouble-shooter: administrative and judicial ability, moral rectitude, extraordinary tact and patience, sincerity, and disinterestedness. His performance in the Philippines won the respect and trust of Roosevelt and Elihu Root. When Root left the Cabinet in 1904, Taft was named Secretary of War by Roosevelt. Taft quickly became the President's most trusted and intimate advisor. Because of the failing health of Secretary of State John Hay, Taft occupied a unique position in the Cabinet. Roosevelt not only called upon Taft for advice on foreign policy, but he gave to Taft the role of special diplomatic envoy. This dissertation examined and evaluated the background for and Taft's conduct of five major diplomatic missions. These were the Vatican mission in 1902; the Panama mission in 1904; the missions to Japan in 1905 and 1907; and the mission to Cuba in 1906..