Description:

William H. Taft TLS Re: Vouching For Yale Classmate's Century Club Membership

A 1p typed letter signed by William H. Taft (1857-1930), former 27th U.S. President and then a law professor at Yale University, as "Wm H Taft" at the center. November 3, 1914. [New Haven, Connecticut.] On bifold stationery with "William H. Taft / New Haven, Conn" embossed at the letterhead. Docketed, dated, and hand-stamped by the recipient's office in the upper right corner. The innermost and outermost leaves are blank. Expected wear including flattened paper folds. Isolated pencil inscriptions by a former collector found verso. Else near fine. 7" x 9.25."

Taft wrote to Joseph B. Gilder (1858-1936), a literary critic and newspaper editor, in part:

"I have your letter of November 2nd. I shall be very glad to recommend George E. Ide for the Century Club. Tell me what I have to do about it. I am a member, but I do not know much about the rules of the Club…"

Ex-president Taft recommended his former classmate from Yale University, George E. Ide (1860-1919), for admission into the Century Club. Ide (Yale University, Class of 1881) had been a sophomore when Taft was a senior (Yale University, Class of 1878). The Century Club was a prestigious men's social and dining club established in New York City in 1847. Its membership skewed towards artistic types (writers, painters, architects, and journalists) as well as the rich, powerful, elite, and politically well-connected (academics, politicians, bankers, jurists). The Century Club provided early- to mid-twentieth century statesmen with an important social outlet: 8 U.S. presidents including William H. Taft were members. The Century Club, today known as the Century Association, counts 2,000 members (now including women!)

George E. Ide was an influential figure in the New York City financial and business sector. Ide had served as the president of the Home Life Insurance Company for 25 years when he died after a brief illness at the age of 59. He had previously served as president of the Yale Club of New York.

After his one presidential term, from 1909-1913, Taft returned to his alma mater Yale University in the spring of 1913 to serve as the Kent Professor of Law and Legal History. For the next eight years, Taft taught courses, delivered paid lectures, and published articles and books including "Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers" in 1916.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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