Top 7 William Howard Taft Fun Facts: Surprising Insights into the 27th US President

1. Heaviest U.S. President

When he wasn't busy tipping the scales of justice, President Taft was tipping actual scales: William Howard Taft was the heaviest U.S. president, with his weight fluctuating between 255 and over 350 pounds during his tenure.
Source => washingtonpost.com

2. Custom-Made Bathtub

Once upon a time in a tub far, far away, a larger-than-life president found himself in a slippery situation: William Howard Taft, famed for his substantial size, had a custom-made bathtub installed in the White House to accommodate his impressive proportions. Though he attempted to shed some pounds through a diet plan with a British doctor in 1904, it wasn't until post-presidency that he successfully lost 70 pounds, weighing in at a svelte 270.8 pounds, thanks to a new diet and exercise regimen under the guidance of another physician.
Source => augustachronicle.com

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=> Fun Facts about Theodore-Roosevelt

3. Baseball Fan with a Big Tub

Belly up to the bar, sports fans: William Howard Taft, a true baseball aficionado, tipped the scales at over 300 pounds during his presidency and found himself in a tight squeeze with the White House bathtub. His solution? A presidential order for a monstrous tub to be installed, sparing his cheeks further embarrassment.
Source => foxnews.com

4. First Golf-Loving President

While some may believe the ultimate golf enthusiast holds office today, they'd be teed off to know that William Howard Taft was the true "hole-in-chief": Taft was the first US president to openly express his love for golf, frequently playing in public, potentially setting a record at the Kebo Valley Golf Club's 17th hole, though without any political motivation tied to his swings.
Source => thegolfballfactory.com

5. Busting the Bathtub Myth

In attempts to dispel the myth that he was a bubble-encased Hydrophilic Hercules, battling slippery sidewalls to emerge victorious from a porcelain demon: William Howard Taft did not, contrary to popular belief, get stuck in a White House bathtub; rather, the colossal commander-in-chief had a bespoke tub installed prior to his tenure, effectively thwarting the rumors of tub-bound entrapment and solidifying his status as a Dryland Dweller and leader of the free world.
Source => constitutioncenter.org

6. Presidential Weight Loss

Tipping the scales like a heavyweight title fight, William Howard Taft went head-to-head with his own waistline in the highest office: As the heaviest U.S. president, Taft weighed in at a whopping 354 pounds, but managed to shed 70 pounds during his tenure by following a low-carb diet, constantly battling his weight throughout his life.
Source => wtsp.com

7. President & Chief Justice Superhero

Move over, Marvel: there's a new superhero in town, and his name is Double Duty Taft! Known for his iron-willed determination to just-ice, there's more than meets the eye to this presidential powerhouse: William Howard Taft is the only person in US history to serve as both the 27th President (1909) and the tenth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1921-1930), truly bringing new meaning to the term "branch hopping."
Source => whitehouse.gov