Page "William Howard Taft" Paragraph 13

In 1904, Roosevelt appointed Taft as Secretary of War.

This appointment allowed Taft to remain involved in the Philippines and Roosevelt also assured Taft he would support his later appointment to the Court, while Taft agreed to support Roosevelt in the Presidential election of 1904.

Roosevelt made the basic policy decisions regarding military affairs, using Taft as a well-traveled spokesman who campaigned for Roosevelt's reelection in 1904.

Of Taft's appointment, Roosevelt said, " If only there were three of you ; I could appoint one of you to the Court, one to the War Department and one to the Philippines.