Taft

Over at Alterdestiny, Loomis heralds a reconsideration of our portliest President, William Howard Taft. Loomis argues correctly, I think, that Taft had the misfortune of being sandwiched between Wilson and Roosevelt, two of America’s most over-rated Presidents. Taft lacked both the almost psychotic imperialism of Roosevelt and the virulent racism of Wilson, while supporting some of the more defensible positions of both. The upshot, I think, is that there’s a certain upside to a basically competent caretaker President.

I would add that Taft was also the last President to sport facial hair. Facial hair has become extraordinarily rare even among candidates for President; Thomas Dewey possessed a modest moustache, and Charles Evans Hughes a rather impressive beard and moustache, but in the last sixty years the bare of face have dominated American politics. I had hopes for the full-bearded Al Gore, but sadly he lacked the fortitude to break new ground, or more accurately to reopen old ground.