Out of the Tub

Say the name William Howard Taft, and those who recall him at all will say he was the fat president who got stuck in a tub. But did that even happen? More importantly, how did his need for approval and pleasing others propel him first into a legal career, and then, despite hating politics, pull him into the White House and beyond? Find out, too, about the three most influential people in his life: his strict, legal-minded father Alphonso, ambitious wife Nellie, determined to one day be First Lady, and closest friend of all, Theodore Roosevelt, who ultimately mocked and betrayed him. At its heart, Out of the Tub is a story of great love, conflict, sacrifice, and service, a personal, behind-the-scenes look at "Big Bill" whose goodwill, hearty laugh, and good humor endeared him to the public, the many events and choices that shaped his life. Both progressive and conservative in his thinking, he stood firmly behind the Constitution and the rule of law, earning him both applause and criticism. Admittedly thin-skinned, the many harsh words hurled his way, hurt deeply but didn't stop him. No wonder, then that, in the end, The New York Times described him as "the most human President who ever sat in the White House."