the president and the prizefighter

hail to the chief!

In 1908, william H. taft was elected the 27th president of the united states with the blessings of his predecessor, Theodore ROOSEVELT, to preserve their nation's standing as a large and growing world power.

however, in his heart, President taft never wanted the job; nor did Theodore Roosevelt truly wish to leave it. Taft would have much rather been someplace else those four years, especially when forced to confront the horrors waiting for him in the White House. such challenges could bring any presidency, never mind any nation, to its knees. 

fortunately, this reluctant chief the people chose was a fighter.

"big bill" taft

standing over six feet tall and weighing nearly 350 lbs., taft was Yale's intramural heavyweight wrestling champion during his college years and remains the heaviest person ever elected to the white house.