Roosevelt, Taft, and
Wilson
The Presidential effect on
Progressivism
How Taft Became President

William Howard Taft was TR’s most trusted
Lieutenant, hand-picked successor

Interesting fact: Taft was 350lbs

Progressive reformer

More regard for the law, would not abuse the powers
of the presidency like TR.

Taft easily won the election in 1908 over Democrat
William Jennings Bryan
President Taft

4 yrs. later Taft would leave the most
decisively beat president of the 20th century.

Problem: He could not satisfy both republican
conservatives and progressives
Taft and the Progressives
Strike 1: Did not lower the Tariff
Strike 2: Appointed pro-big business,
borderline corrupt Secretary of Interior,
Richard Ballinger
- Pinchot vs. Ballinger Controversy



Summarize the event
Who would these events upset?
How would these events upset them? TR?
Roosevelt vs. Taft



Roosevelt had traveled to Africa and Europe
after his departure from Whitehouse
Angered by Taft’s actions
Felt only he could Re-unite Conservatives and
Progressives
Roosevelt’s
“New Nationalism”
Gave Speech on September 10, 1910 called
“New Nationalism”
Speech included Progressive reforms
Basically, a slap in Taft’s face
1910 Congressional Election

Conservative Republicans suffered huge defeat in
the Congressional Elections. What does this
mean?


People are unhappy with Government
People dislike Taft
Roosevelt vs. Taft
Strike 3: U.S. Steel suit in Oct. 27, 1911

TR organized a monopoly with US steel to
help during an economic recession in 1907.

TAFT charged them with a lawsuit and said
the monopoly was illegal.

Slap in TR’s face.
In 1912, the Republican Party splits at it convention:
Why did they support or oppose Taft?
Progressives:



Opposed Taft because he signed
and defended the Payne-Aldrich
Tariff (A weak bill that raised
tariffs, but not enough to
protect American-big business.)
Opposed Taft because he
seemed to oppose conservation
Opposed Taft because he
supported the more
conservative members of the
republican senate, (Joseph
Cannon)
Conservatives:


Supported Taft because they
opposed progressivism, Teddy
Roosevelt’s Square Deal
programs and low tariffs.
Supported Taft because he
favored big business
LaFollette

Roosevelt liked La Follette who was campaining
for Republican nomination

La Follette suffered nervous breakdown in Feb
1912, Roosevelt announced his candidacy Feb 22.
Roosevelt vs. Taft

TR declares a run for presidency

Battle now for the Republican Nomination:


Roosevelt = Progressive Republicans
Taft = Conservative Republicans

TR won victories in all 13 presidential primaries, but
lost the nomination to Taft

TR formed Progressive Party

Said it was “Fit as a bull moose”, hence BULL MOOSE
party
Woodrow Wilson
as Presidential Nominee

Democratic Presidential Candidate

Governor of NJ and professor of Political Science
at Princeton


Committed to Reform – Platform called “New
Freedom”
Why is this a problem for the REPUBLICANS!?!
Election of 1912

Taft resigned to defeat, hardly campaigned

TR campaigned tons, until would-be assassin shot
him, and sidelined him last few weeks before
election

In Nov, TR and Taft split republican vote, Wilson
held onto most Democrats and won easily.
In the 1912 Election, four parties run for President:
Who did each party run for president?
Progressive Party:
 Theodore President
Democratic Party:
 Woodrow Wilson
Republican Party:
 William Howard Taft
Socialist Party:
 Eugene V. Debs
Electoral
Vote
Popular Vote
(%)
435
6,293,454
(41.9)
Theodore Roosevelt
(Progressive/Bull Moose)
88
4,119,538
(27.4)
William H. Taft
(Republican)
8
3,484,980
(23.2)
Eugene V. Debs
(Socialist)
—
900,672
(6.0)
Other Parties
(Prohibition; Socialist Labor)
—
235,025
Woodrow Wilson
(Democratic)
Election of 1912
Woodrow Wilson as a Progressive

Concentrated powers of Exec branch in his own hands, more
than TR or Taft



Firm control over his cabinet
Delegated real authority only to those loyal to him
Progressive Acts




Income Tax – graduated income tax, 1% tax on individuals or
corporations earning over $4,000 a year, up to 6% for those over
$500,000
Federal Reserve Act – reform American banking system, passed
December 1913
Federal Trade Commission Act – created a regulatory agency that
would help business determine in advance whether their actions would
be acceptable to the gov.
Clayton Antitrust Act – anti-monopoly act which Wilson eventually
lost interest in after awhile
Woodrow Wilson as a Progressive

By 1914, Wilson believed New Freedom was complete

Refused to support movement for national woman suffrage

Dismissed any new progressive reform legislation

Congressional elections of 1914 smashed democrats, and
Presidents lackluster attempt at reforms

By 1915 – Wilson began to support a 2nd flurry of reforms


Keating-Owen Act – prohibited shipment across state lines of goods
produced by underage children (court invalidated this act in 1918)
Smith-Lever Act – demonstrated how fed gov. could influence local
behavior, fed grants to states that agreed to support agricultural
extension education.