M William Taft

William Howard Taft (1857–1930), the 27th President (1909–1913), was Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor. He continued some progressive reforms, prosecuting trusts and improving the postal savings system, but he lacked Roosevelt’s political flair. Taft later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1921–1930), the only person to head both the executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government.

Interesting anecdote: Taft was the heaviest U.S. President, weighing over 300 pounds (136 kg). A popular story (though apocryphal) claims that he once got stuck in the White House bathtub, prompting a larger tub to be installed to accommodate his size. True or not, the tale of Taft’s bathtub incident has become one of the most enduring presidential legends.