Before reading "Imperial Cruise", I believed that Theodore Roosevelt was an amazing president and a man of the highest character, and all I knew about Taft was that he was fat. I now realize that Teddy, at least the Teddy that most history books teach, was a completely fabricated character and that Taft was one of the best men who has ever held the office.
I love how a bunch of people call him fat, even though they're all obese. President Taft was an amazing president, and he'd be amazing if he was in office today.
Don't call him fat or obese, necause most of you people have no room to say that. You never led a country before have you? He certainly did.
Of all the early presidential recordings, Taft is the first who seems to talk like a normal person, rather than some stereotype of a bombastic political windbag.
@luckybestwash Taft, by nature, did not want to be President. Others, like his wife for one, Thought he should be President. Even when he was elected President, he disliked the tasks he had to do and, as an escape from the trials of being President, he indulged in overconsumption a lot more than he normally would. The only major reason he ran in 1912 was to keep Roosevelt from being President again. He did not feel sad that Wilson beat him ( Taft ).
I remember reading that some people were shocked to hear Taft speak because, due to his large frame, they expected to hear a deep booming voice and instead heard a rather high voice. His voice is rather high pitched.
@CountryGentleman83 I found a very rare video of President William Taft visiting the president of México Porfirio Diaz. Check it. The tittle is Presidente Taft y Presidente de Mexico Don Porfirio Diaz en la aduana de Ciudad Juárez
considering he weighed over 300 lbs he doesnt sound that fat... i am a history buff and i LOVE these old recordings too... i have a picture (not a portrait) of every president since john quincy adams... and a digital scan of every important document in this countrys history.
Taft surprisingly was very Progressive, he busted more trusts and put aside land for conservation, however this is often overlooked. He was a unitarian Republican who believed in peace, god bless him.
@bittergunowner12 He was a very progressive president in the area of trustbusting. However, you are very wrong in saying that Taft put aside land for conservation is completely false. Taft in fact fired forester Gifford Pinchot who was a close friend of Roosevelt and fought for the conservation of wildlife and resources. Taft also went against the Reclamation Act of 1902 and used preserved land for oil drilling. Roosevelt put aside land for conservation not Taft.
I wonder what people would say if any of our modern day presidents used the words "Christian civilization" or "Christian progress" like President Taft did.
he was too nice, and he didn't want to be president. that caused him to act in ways that pissed off roosevelt. plus, people tend to judge by weight...
Generally speaking, it's been our reluctant Presidents who were the least warlike and the most respectful of the rights of the people and of the states. And this stands to reason, for unlike the enthusiastic Presidents, they were not driven by dreams of personal glory or by a lust for power.
I've looked up Taft here because I've heard Ron Paul mention him several times. I see from this speach Taft made much about what Ron Paul sees in him and why he called him "Mr. Republican."
He was probably talking about Senator Robert Taft, 1952 Republican Presidential primary contender who lost to Eisenhower. William Taft was Robert Taft's father.
Here was a man who knew the cost of war. Who knew that soldiers and their families were flesh and blood people who would suffer the brunt of it.
Unless the fatuous goof who runs the country today and uses soldiers as living props for propaganda purposes, then abandons them to substandard care when their usefulness is over...
i wouldn't really say Uslysses Grant was that great as a president. He was easly manipulated by his politicians, but great general if you view the victory not stragedy.
I'm so happy to see all the people here who admire President Taft; it gives me hope to see that there are some rational people around, and that bloodthirsty imperialism and disrespect for the law are not unanimous.
Taft was a very good president; he didn't spill the blood of his countrymen, respected the U.S. Constitution, and was a role model for youth. There weren't many good presidents; the blood-lust historians' rankings are skewed. My favorite presidents include Grover Cleveland, George Washington, Calvin Coolidge, Uslysses Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, Warren Harding, and John F. Kennedy. Too bad Henry A. Wallace and Samuel J. Tilden never became President.
Eisenhower, the man who had the CIA overthrow a democratically elected leader in Iran and replaced it with a dictator? Meh, I wish Robert Taft (William's son I believe) would have won the nomination that year.
Yes, Robert Taft would have probably been a fine President; even if he had been elected, however, he would have died almost immediately. When viewing the bloody history of the U.S.A., Eisenhower certainly stands out to me as a cut above most of the men who have served as President.
Hmmm... what year??? Well, he was President from 1909-1913, but he's mentioning "outlawing war". That concept was signed as the Kellogg-Briand treaty of 1927, when Taft was the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. So your guess is as good as anyone else's.
Taft made most of his recordings when he ran for President in 1908,against W.J. Bryan (who also made a large number of records as well.) and a few in the 1910-1912 era.
Good God, its like Ron Paul speaking, but without the squeaky voice!
jbiddleston 2 months ago
Taft was a true conservative, busting monopolies, leveling the playing field, conserving national environmental treasures
DCUPtoejuice 2 months ago
I'm all the way republican! I LOVE William Taft! Beautiful,just beautiful....he was
16BrookeAnne 7 months ago
Before reading "Imperial Cruise", I believed that Theodore Roosevelt was an amazing president and a man of the highest character, and all I knew about Taft was that he was fat. I now realize that Teddy, at least the Teddy that most history books teach, was a completely fabricated character and that Taft was one of the best men who has ever held the office.
GeetarAdam 9 months ago
I love how a bunch of people call him fat, even though they're all obese. President Taft was an amazing president, and he'd be amazing if he was in office today.
Don't call him fat or obese, necause most of you people have no room to say that. You never led a country before have you? He certainly did.
LastHero50 1 year ago
@LastHero50 Not to take yet another dig, but there literally wouldn't be any room at all. It was taken up by his bathtub.
1nown 2 weeks ago
Of all the early presidential recordings, Taft is the first who seems to talk like a normal person, rather than some stereotype of a bombastic political windbag.
luckybestwash 1 year ago 5
@luckybestwash Taft, by nature, did not want to be President. Others, like his wife for one, Thought he should be President. Even when he was elected President, he disliked the tasks he had to do and, as an escape from the trials of being President, he indulged in overconsumption a lot more than he normally would. The only major reason he ran in 1912 was to keep Roosevelt from being President again. He did not feel sad that Wilson beat him ( Taft ).
ALANRLEAKE 4 months ago
I remember reading that some people were shocked to hear Taft speak because, due to his large frame, they expected to hear a deep booming voice and instead heard a rather high voice. His voice is rather high pitched.
MIKESOWELL 1 year ago
The two dislikes are ponyta supporters.
fallenangeldemon666 1 year ago
Could you please upload the rest of the speech, or direct us where to find it? I'd really like to know what he said after "toward permanent".
truthslap 1 year ago
@CountryGentleman83 I found a very rare video of President William Taft visiting the president of México Porfirio Diaz. Check it. The tittle is Presidente Taft y Presidente de Mexico Don Porfirio Diaz en la aduana de Ciudad Juárez
romano78 1 year ago
considering he weighed over 300 lbs he doesnt sound that fat... i am a history buff and i LOVE these old recordings too... i have a picture (not a portrait) of every president since john quincy adams... and a digital scan of every important document in this countrys history.
b16blackcats 1 year ago
@b16blackcats There's recordings on here, if you look hard enough, of every president since Ben Harrison and Cleveland.
Dralcoffin 1 year ago
@Dralcoffin Yeah, I have listened to almost all of them. I also watched the inauguration of Mckinley too.
b16blackcats 1 year ago
The end of the speech is cut off. Toward permanent what?
CountryGentleman83 2 years ago
I like these old recordings. I visited the historical voices website in the past, but not the recording isn't working. At least for William Taft.
CountryGentleman83 2 years ago 2
He sounds a bit like Lowell Thomas
44032 3 years ago
I like Taft. He was the largest of all presidents, about 350 pounds, but proportionally fit.
paulgreenfields 3 years ago 3
sounds like president eden lol
hhockeyguy1234a 3 years ago 2
Ironically, Taft was Secretary of War under the Roosevelt Administration.
bittergunowner12 3 years ago 4
Taft surprisingly was very Progressive, he busted more trusts and put aside land for conservation, however this is often overlooked. He was a unitarian Republican who believed in peace, god bless him.
bittergunowner12 3 years ago 18
@bittergunowner12 He was a very progressive president in the area of trustbusting. However, you are very wrong in saying that Taft put aside land for conservation is completely false. Taft in fact fired forester Gifford Pinchot who was a close friend of Roosevelt and fought for the conservation of wildlife and resources. Taft also went against the Reclamation Act of 1902 and used preserved land for oil drilling. Roosevelt put aside land for conservation not Taft.
yzir26 9 months ago
Compare this man to the monkey occupying the White House right now.
avzett 3 years ago 7
This statement becomes racist in a few months I suppose.
evday 3 years ago 4
lol
arkansasjames88 3 years ago
Taft is pimp.
woobiehastelly 3 years ago
Boy, do I wish we had a President like this now. Can you even imagine W or McCain saying anything like what Taft says here?
theblob2007 3 years ago 9
I wonder what people would say if any of our modern day presidents used the words "Christian civilization" or "Christian progress" like President Taft did.
TolsmaLMC 3 years ago 2
The secular Left would say he wants to establish a theocracy and the ADL would accuse him of being anti-Semitic.
theblob2007 3 years ago 5
I can respect your opinion. But what did he do so wrong?
hauntedmythcaves 3 years ago
he was too nice, and he didn't want to be president. that caused him to act in ways that pissed off roosevelt. plus, people tend to judge by weight...
Albukhshi 3 years ago 5
He was a great president, even though he didn't want to be.
hauntedmythcaves 4 years ago 6
Also the hardest working president.
brs19883 4 years ago 5
Absoloutley.
hauntedmythcaves 4 years ago
Generally speaking, it's been our reluctant Presidents who were the least warlike and the most respectful of the rights of the people and of the states. And this stands to reason, for unlike the enthusiastic Presidents, they were not driven by dreams of personal glory or by a lust for power.
theblob2007 3 years ago
that's very true. He probably was one of our most reluctant presidents.
hauntedmythcaves 3 years ago
I'm in family whit him :b
RikkeTaft 4 years ago 4
What a piece of History. To actually be able to slip back in time to this era. What Year was this? Very interesting to put a voice to
him.
CadillacL 4 years ago 4
I've looked up Taft here because I've heard Ron Paul mention him several times. I see from this speach Taft made much about what Ron Paul sees in him and why he called him "Mr. Republican."
DanTroops 4 years ago
He was probably talking about Senator Robert Taft, 1952 Republican Presidential primary contender who lost to Eisenhower. William Taft was Robert Taft's father.
Biniou7 4 years ago
TAFTED!
bfg15000 4 years ago 2
Here was a man who knew the cost of war. Who knew that soldiers and their families were flesh and blood people who would suffer the brunt of it.
Unless the fatuous goof who runs the country today and uses soldiers as living props for propaganda purposes, then abandons them to substandard care when their usefulness is over...
Mality 4 years ago 9
I wish Taft could run for prez today.
He would lead the Republican Party higher then they are today, and I AM A REPUBLICAN MYSELF! yike.
PapagenoJuan 4 years ago 17
@PapagenoJuan Even better than Taft, Teddy Roosevelt! The latte-drinking liberals would crap themselves (just as they did when he was in office!)
tailskicksarse 1 year ago
i wouldn't really say Uslysses Grant was that great as a president. He was easly manipulated by his politicians, but great general if you view the victory not stragedy.
baliwkuya 4 years ago 3
hahah@ every civilized man, william taft thought he was civilized uh haha
tariqziyad 4 years ago
America in the 20th century.
One name: Nixon.
What did Nixon know and who did Nixon know?
AcePilot101 4 years ago
I'm so happy to see all the people here who admire President Taft; it gives me hope to see that there are some rational people around, and that bloodthirsty imperialism and disrespect for the law are not unanimous.
billyguns2 4 years ago 2
Taft should have defeated both Wilson and Roosevelt in 1912; stupid, stupid Americans!
billyguns2 4 years ago 5
Taft was a very good president; he didn't spill the blood of his countrymen, respected the U.S. Constitution, and was a role model for youth. There weren't many good presidents; the blood-lust historians' rankings are skewed. My favorite presidents include Grover Cleveland, George Washington, Calvin Coolidge, Uslysses Grant, Dwight Eisenhower, Warren Harding, and John F. Kennedy. Too bad Henry A. Wallace and Samuel J. Tilden never became President.
billyguns2 4 years ago 3
Eisenhower, the man who had the CIA overthrow a democratically elected leader in Iran and replaced it with a dictator? Meh, I wish Robert Taft (William's son I believe) would have won the nomination that year.
Nillok 4 years ago 3
Yes, Robert Taft would have probably been a fine President; even if he had been elected, however, he would have died almost immediately. When viewing the bloody history of the U.S.A., Eisenhower certainly stands out to me as a cut above most of the men who have served as President.
billyguns2 4 years ago
you nailed on the head perfectly,eisenhower was not a good president,mainly for the coup in iran.
nema1218 4 years ago
it was said he was like grover cleveland (in size) anyways totally great video
aubriefaye 4 years ago 2
He got stuck in his own bathtub. LOL HOW EMBARASSING
Yellow2004Mustang 4 years ago 3
too true.
PapagenoJuan 4 years ago
"War should be abolished." Yeah, that's not a dreamworld he was living in.
sthugh 4 years ago 3
That is so cool! Where did you get the voice recording?
Grace8706 4 years ago 3
I'm glad to see he got out of that old bathtub. lol
belairbolt 4 years ago 3
This must have come straight off one of those ancient wax cylinders.
aspersive 4 years ago 2
Hmmm... what year??? Well, he was President from 1909-1913, but he's mentioning "outlawing war". That concept was signed as the Kellogg-Briand treaty of 1927, when Taft was the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. So your guess is as good as anyone else's.
mirosal 4 years ago 2
Taft made most of his recordings when he ran for President in 1908,against W.J. Bryan (who also made a large number of records as well.) and a few in the 1910-1912 era.
jfs78 4 years ago
greatest president in us history!
bordeauxjean 4 years ago 4
What year was this recorded?
Bopalena 4 years ago 2
I'm making a musical about Taft at bohemian grove, I'll post a trailer when we've finished some in about a month
stemcellfilms 4 years ago 2
Way cool! Taft is my favorite president and I have never heard what he sounds like until now. Thanks!
ludwig2028 4 years ago 2