Charles Phelps Taft II

Charles Phelps Taft II
National Photo Company Collection · Public domain · source
Name	Charles Phelps Taft II
Birth date	September 20, 1897
Birth place	Cincinnati, Ohio
Death date	June 24, 1983
Death place	Cincinnati, Ohio
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Parents	William Howard Taft, Helen Herron Taft
Relatives	Robert Alphonso Taft, William Howard Taft III

Charles Phelps Taft II was an American lawyer and politician, and the son of the 27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft, and Helen Herron Taft. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in a family of prominent politicians, including his brother Robert Alphonso Taft, who served as a United States Senator from Ohio. Taft II was also the nephew of Charles Phelps Taft, a U.S. Representative from Ohio, and the cousin of William Howard Taft III, who served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland. He was educated at Yale University, where he was a member of the Skull and Bones Society, and later attended Yale Law School, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a Yale University graduate and a United States Solicitor General.

● Early Life and Education

Charles Phelps Taft II was born on September 20, 1897, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to William Howard Taft and Helen Herron Taft. His father was a prominent lawyer and politician, who served as the Governor-General of the Philippines, Secretary of War, and later as the 27th President of the United States. Taft II grew up in a family of politicians and was exposed to politics from a young age, often accompanying his father to White House events and meetings with world leaders, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Winston Churchill. He attended Yale University, where he studied law and was a member of the Skull and Bones Society, a secret society that also included George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and John Kerry. After graduating from Yale University, Taft II attended Yale Law School, where he earned his law degree and began his career as a lawyer, working with prominent law firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

● Career

Taft II began his career as a lawyer in New York City, working with prominent law firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. He later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he practiced law and became involved in local politics, serving on the Cincinnati City Council and working with organizations, such as the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Bar Association. Taft II was also a member of the American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association, and he worked with notable lawyers, including Harlan F. Stone, Felix Frankfurter, and William O. Douglas. In addition to his law career, Taft II was also involved in various business ventures, including serving on the board of directors of the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company and the Procter & Gamble Company.

● Politics and Public Service

Taft II was involved in politics throughout his life, following in the footsteps of his father, William Howard Taft, and his brother, Robert Alphonso Taft. He served on the Cincinnati City Council and worked with organizations, such as the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Republican Party. Taft II was also a delegate to the Republican National Convention and worked with notable politicians, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford. In addition to his political career, Taft II was also involved in public service, serving on the board of directors of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and working with organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross.

● Personal Life

Taft II was married to Eleanor Kellogg Taft and had two children, Sylvia Taft and William Howard Taft IV. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and served on the board of directors of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Art Museum. Taft II was also a member of the Cincinnati Country Club and the New York Yacht Club, and he enjoyed sports, including golf and sailing. He was a close friend of notable individuals, including Harry S. Truman, Dean Acheson, and John J. McCloy, and he often attended social events, including the Kentucky Derby and the Masters Tournament.

● Legacy

Taft II's legacy is closely tied to his family's history and his own contributions to law, politics, and public service. He was a respected lawyer and politician, who worked with notable individuals, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Winston Churchill. Taft II's commitment to public service and his involvement in organizations, such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, reflect his family's tradition of service and philanthropy. He is remembered as a dedicated public servant and a loyal member of his community, and his legacy continues to inspire future generations of leaders, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and John Kerry. Taft II's story is also closely tied to the history of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the United States, and his contributions to the city's development and growth are still celebrated today, including his work with the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Republican Party.