Description:

Taft William

William Taft TLS, Opines on Religion, Politics Mentioning Jefferson, Adams and J.Q. Adams

 

Single page TLS on William Taft's personal letterhead, 6.75" x 9". Dated "August 12, 1908" and signed by William Howard Taft as "Wm H Taft" who additional annotated the letter. Typed in light blue type. Page lightly stained with expected folds.

 

William Taft important letter discussing religion and politics, noting religious prejudice for the position of President over the decades " … If the American electorate is so narrow as not to elect a Unitarian, well and good …If a man's religious creed is to play a part in this election of otherwise, when he has lived a fairly moral life, and has done what he could for the good of the country, and merely stands in the same place that Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John C. Calhoun and Senator Hoar stood in, and is to be proscribed from hold political office, why the sooner we know if the better."

 

An important and revealing letter. The religious affiliations of Presidents of the United States can affect their electability, shape their stances on policitcal philosophy. Speculation of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and William Howard Taft being atheists was reported by competitors during election campaigns, while others such as Jimmy Carter, used faith as a defining aspect of his presidential run and ability to hold the office. Almost all of the presidents can be categorized as Christian, at least by upbringing, though some were unaffiliated with any specific religious body. Protestants predominate, with Episcopalians and Presbyterians being the most prevalent. 

 

Four presidents are affiliated with Unitarian churches, and a fifth (Jefferson) was an exponent of ideas now commonly associated with Unitarianism. The question arises as to the degree to which the presidents upheld such religious affiliations. The information is generally available in the statements of the presidents themselves; for example, John Quincy Adams left detailed statements of his beliefs. William Howard Taft, a Unitarian, also clearly expressed his views regarding religion and the office in a letter to a friend. 

 

A superb letter, touching upon the untouchable subject.


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