125

TAFT, WILLIAM H.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:360.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 900.00 USD
TAFT, WILLIAM H.
<b>125. WILLIAM H. TAFT</b> (1857 - 1930) Twenty-seventh President of the United States and Supreme Court Chief Justice. Fine content T.L.S. as Secretary of War, 1p. 8vo., Washington, May 9, 1907, to Arthur J. Nathan regarding progress on the construction of the Panama Canal, in part: "<i>...Up to this time we had no difficulty with the labor on the Isthmus. We are hopeful that we will be able to carry it on with the use of European and West Indian labor...</i>". As Secretary of War under Roosevelt, Taft supervised preliminary work on the construction of the Panama Canal, visiting the site no less than five times during his tenure. By 1907, with the appointment of George Goethals as chief engineer, work on the Canal ran at maximum efficiency, with workers from all nations now engaged in the monumental process. Taft's presidential campaign the following year centered heavily on his intentions to carry through Roosevelt's popular policies, which obviously included the completion of the Panama Canal. Indeed, Taft's inaugural address gave special attention to the Canal, which he called "the greatest constructive enterprise of modern times". Boldly signed and near fine condition.<b>$700-900</b>