uspresident

Apparently President Taft enjoyed a good meal!

The Washington Post (1877-1954) - Washington, D.C. Date: Oct 17, 1911 Start Page: 4 Pages: 1 Text Word Count: 647 Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 16. -- President Taft spent today in insurgent southern California, and received a hearty welcome in Los Angeles and Pasadena. The streets were thronged, and there were cheers all along the route. It was entirely a nonpartisan reception, Senator Works and Gov. Hiram Johnson, of the insurgent wing of the Republican party, accompanying Mr. Taft on all his travels. pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/242...

The images actually show President Taft in Oakland for the Cornerstone ceremony for Oakland City Hall on October 13, 1911. Oakland Mayor Frank K. Mott (1866-1958) is to the right of Taft, and Governor Hiram Johnson (1866-1945) is behind Taft (but cut in half). Sources: The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]), 14 Oct. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ( chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1911-10-14/ed-...) The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]), 14 Oct. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1911-10-14/ed-...)

Wighing between 23 and 25 stone, Taft was a MASSIVE man But in this picture, siting down, he looks even more massive than we know he was.

Major Butt has an interesting history. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archibald_Butt

I wonder who they cut out of the image, top left?...

Taft Family en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taft_family Here is article about their mother: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Taft it identifies his only sister as being: Frances Louise "Fanny" Taft (Edwards), (1866-1950). She married San Diego surgeon William A. Edwards . She lived to be 84 and here is her obit: select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FB0B1EFC3D59157B93... Dr. Edwards' obit is below, unfortunately it says that he left behind just his widow, so these two lovely children pre-deceased their parents. select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=FA0A13F63C5516738D...

"Fanny"? Butt? I sense a trend here.

If I had to guess, I'd say it was actually Butt's sister, by the wording.

It looks like he is playing with something in his hands. I wonder what that was? A watch perhaps. A coin. Interesting.

On closer inspection, I see a watch chain over his thumb -- must be his watch.

I really like this one. We've all seen so many photos of Lincoln with the same serious face, where here he's almost smiling and he's definitely fiddling with a watch or something. Makes him seem more like a real person.

A much earlier photo also shows his left hand blurry. He would have sat for enough long exposure photos to know he shouldn't fiddle with his hands while posing. I think he couldn't completely control his left hand for some reason.

A President of a country usually is not a professional on modeling, and usually the gesture a person posed reflects his personality and style. From this image, Lincoln, a man focus on his work, looks relax even though in a tiresome smile. It must be very tough to be a President during Civil War, and to be a White male to conduct slavery abolishment that means he was working under life threaten condition when he needs to faces the crowd on this issue. The passion and tension over so many public issues. Is it good to be a leader?