Helen tapped was more ambitious about getting to the white house than her husband, William Howard taft, and was willing to get personally in bald in politics to get him elected. As first lady, she overcame a serious illness directly mounted the white house. Invited top Classical Musicians to perform their, and support it causes that matter to her. Helen tap also has one of the most physical legacies of our first ladies. Washington d. C. s famous japanese cherry trees, the ones that frame the tidal basin in the Nations Capital and brings tens of thousands of visitors to washington every year. Good evening, and welcome to first ladies. Influence and image. The life of hell and taft, her husband served in the white house from 1909 to 1913. Here to tell us about her life and her legacy is her biographer lewis gold. His biography of her is helen taft, our musical first lady. You open the book by making the case that of the 20th century first lady, shes the most obscure but you say she deser
White house. American history tv features cspans original series, first ladies. Cspan produced in the series in cooperation with the White House Historical association. Through conversations, video tools, and questions from cspans audience, we tell the story of americas 45 first ladies. Next, helen taft. This is about 1. 5 hours. Helen taft was more ambitious by getting to the white house than her husband. Willing to get personally involved in politics to get elected. She overcame a serious illness to directly manage the white house, invite a Classical Musicians to perform, and supported concerts that mattered to her. Helen taft also has a visible legacy. Famouston, d. C. s japanese cherry trees, the ones that frame the title basin in bring visitors to washington every year. Good evening and welcome to first ladies, influence and image, the life of helen taft. He served from 19091913. Here to tell us about her life is her biographer. Is our musical first lady. You open the book making
Taft our musical first lady. You opened the book by making the case that of the 20th century first lady, shes the most obscure, but you say she deserves better from history. Tell me quickly why she deserves better than being obscure . Mr. Gould well, because she did some things that were, as youve mentioned in your opening, about that were very constructive, i mean, the cherry trees, bringing the Classical Music musicians to the white house, and, generally, trying to make washington the Cultural Center of the nation. That was her ambition. Now, it didnt work out because of medical reasons. But she had an agenda that would have made her rank with Eleanor Roosevelt or Lady Bird Johnson in terms of transforming washington had things gone the other way. Ms. Swain she also seemed to have an agenda to get her husband to the white house. Mr. Gould yes, the story is that she decided when she visited the white house in the hayeS Administration, hey, i want to do that as well. Its somewhat overd
Helen taft was more ambitious about getting to the white house that her husband William Howard taft and was willing to get personally involved with politics to get him elected. Illness toe a series directly manage the white house, invited top Classical Musicians to perform their, and supported causes that matter to her. She also has one of the most visible legacies of all of the first ladies. Trees thatcherry bring tens of thousands of visitors to washington every year. Good evening and welcome to first ladies. The life of helen taft. Her husband served in the white house. Here to tell us about her life is her buyer for biographer lewis gould. You open the book by making the case that of the 20th century first ladies, she is the most of your that you say she deserves better from history. My why she deserves better tell me why she deserves better. And she did things that were very constructive. The cherry trees, bringing Classical Musicians to the white house, and generally trying to ma
History. Here are a couple of important things. Most of it seems to be about the tariff. The 16th amendment came into being. There was the oil decision in 1911 and more states admitted to the union. Tafts role, how long was stroke . That she had a 15 may 15 they went on a cruise, and they said, there is something wrong with ms. Taft. Realized she had a seizure. President ,ked at the seeing hisuch pain wife have a seizure. She had some temporary , and it came back shekly that was her voice. Lost that articulation, and it took a long time for it to come back. Earlier that morning her son had surgery. She was a nervous wreck that and worried about the operation. She was quite tense to begin with. He had blood and stuff. He was her favorite son. She said, i will never have him again. The nice thing, there are stories of him sitting on the , saying, say the. Say it again. He was running a rehab for his was also being president. Was he able to do his duties . I think he carried forward the d