For her daughter, who had the same name until she married in 1920, see Helen Taft Manning.
Helen Herron Taft
Taft in 1908
First Lady of the United States
In role March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913
President
William Howard Taft
Preceded by
Edith Roosevelt
Succeeded by
Ellen Wilson
Personal details
Born
Helen Louise Herron
(1861-06-02)June 2, 1861 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died
May 22, 1943(1943-05-22) (aged 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place
Arlington National Cemetery
Spouse
William Howard Taft
(m. 1886; died 1930)
Children
Robert
Helen
Charles II
Education
University of Cincinnati
Signature
Helen Louise Taft (née Herron; June 2, 1861 – May 22, 1943), known as Nellie, was the First Lady of the United States from 1909 to 1913 as the wife of President William Howard Taft. Born to a politically well-connected Ohio family, she took an early interest in political life, deciding at the age of 17 that she wished to become first lady. Herron married Taft in 1886, and she guided him throughout his political career, encouraging him to take actions that would bring him closer to the presidency. Accompanying her husband to the Philippines in 1900, she became a prominent socialite in Manila, contributing to US-Philippines relations. After her husband was appointed Secretary of War, she played a significant role in convincing him to run for president in the 1908 presidential election and making the necessary connections to ensure his success.
As first lady, Taft was closely involved in the political aspects of the presidency, regularly sitting in on meetings and serving as her husband's closest advisor. She held a strong influence over the president's decisions, expressing her concerns when she disagreed with him and providing her input on presidential appointments. She also carried out a reorganization of the White House staff and decor. Inspired by her experience in the Philippines, she converted the White House lawn and the West Potomac Park into social hubs with regular live shows and events. Her decision to plant cherry trees in the park proved to be a success, creating a popular tourist attraction. Taft's influence as first lady was cut short by a stroke two months into her tenure, permanently limiting her mobility and leaving her absent for a year while she partially recovered.
Though President Taft was relieved that his term had ended, Helen Taft was upset by his defeat for reelection. She remained active after leaving the White House, supporting the Red Cross during World War I and participating in activities for the Colonial Dames of America. She was widowed in 1930, and she was buried beside her husband in Arlington National Cemetery after her death in 1943.
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of William Howard Taft to HelenHerronTaft, 1909-1912. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. The papers of William Howard Taft. Library of Congress...
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William Jennings Bryan to ultra-conservative First Lady HelenHerronTaft. Her friendship with the Tafts was long-standing, despite their differing opinions...
dispute. Taft ruled that the union's action amounted to a secondary boycott, which was illegal. It is not clear when Taft met HelenHerron (often called...
future First Ladies including Lucretia Garfield, Ida McKinley, and HelenHerronTaft. When portraits of past presidents were commissioned for the White...
displays that can be visited at the museums. In 1912, First Lady HelenHerronTaft donated her inauguration gown to the museum to begin the First Ladies'...
president. April 30 - Taft has the city of La Bova renanmed to Balboa in the Panama Canal Zone. May 17 - First Lady HelenHerronTaft suffers a stroke that...
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with prominent attendees including President William Howard Taft, First Lady HelenHerronTaft, Navy Secretary George von Lengerke Meyer, and Horace Porter...
was a grandson of President William Howard Taft and First Lady Helen Louise "Nellie" Taft. William Howard Taft III was born on August 7, 1915, and was the...
cherry trees were planted on the Northern Bank of the tidal basin by HelenHerronTaft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, on 27...
time in inauguration history, the incoming First Lady (in this case HelenHerronTaft) joined her husband in leading the parade from the Capitol to the...
Big Lub, his boyhood nickname. Sleeping Beauty, a nickname his wife HelenHerronTaft called him because he was always falling asleep Coiner of Weasel Words...
Missouri. Martyn included her own figure in some of her drawings. With HelenHerronTaft and "Ned, the Haughty Butler," June 25, 1908 With Wu Ting Fang, Chinese...
of the nation, in particular that of first lady HelenHerronTaft, wife of President William Howard Taft. Soon, both the House and the Senate set out to...
Sowle (1930–2018), actress HelenHerronTaft (1861–1943), First Lady of the United States (1909–1913), wife of William Howard Taft Lydia H. Tilton (1839–1915)...
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