The major accomplishments and the famous, main events that occurred during the time that William Taft was president included the Antitrust Policy, the Ballinger-Pinchot affair and the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act. The Angel Island Immigration Station opened on January 21, 1910 in San Francisco Bay, California and the world was shocked by the Sinking of the Titanic in 1912. William Taft died of a heart attack on March 8, 1930, aged 72. The next president was Woodrow Wilson. 

Birthday: September 15, 1857

Place of Birth: Ohio

Political Party: Republican 

Nickname: Big Lub

Number: 27th President

Vice President: James S. Sherman

Age at Inauguration: 51

Height: 6 feet

Weight: 316 pounds

First Lady: Helen Taft

Religion: Unitarian

Date of Death: March 8, 1930

Date of William Taft Presidency: March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1913

The Nickname of William Taft: "Big Lub"
The nickname of President William Taft provides an insight into how the man was viewed by the American public during his presidency. The meaning of the nickname "Big Lub" together with "Big Will" and "Big Chief" are a reference to his large size. His wife, Helen Taft, gave him the nickname of the "Sleeping Beauty" due to his habit of falling asleep on car rides.

Character and Personality Type of William Taft
The character traits of President William Taft can be described as outgoing, genial, gregarious, amiable and diligent, with a strong sense of responsibility. It has been speculated that the Myers-Briggs personality type for William Taft is an ESFJ (Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling, Judgment). An outgoing, sociable, expressive character and a nurturer of established social institutions. William Taft Personality type: Friendly, gregarous, cooperative, observant and informative.

Accomplishments of William Taft and the Famous Events during his Presidency
The accomplishments of William Taft and the most famous events during his presidency are provided in an interesting, short summary format detailed below.

The Progressive Movement
Summary of the Progressive Movement: The Progressive Movement and Progressive Reforms continued during the presidency of William Taft addressing political and social reforms relating to working conditions, child labor, education and female suffrage. Bribery and corruption, the political machines and unfair business practices were also attacked.

Taft's Dollar Diplomacy
Summary of the Taft's Dollar Diplomacy: The foreign policy of the administration was known as Taft's Dollar Diplomacy (1909 to 1913) and was designed to increase the economic power of the US, promoting trade in Latin America, the Caribbean, West Africa and East Asia. It also aimed at preventing foreign powers from increasing their financial foothold in key markets. William Taft's dollar diplomacy failed to counteract economic and political instability and resulted in animosity against the United States.   

Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909
Summary of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909: The Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909 was designed to lower tariff rates but but also enacted a corporation tax. The law alienated President William Taft from the Progressives and Conservative Republicans who criticized the president for being weak and indecisive.

1909 Ballinger-Pinchot Scandal
Summary of the Ballinger-Pinchot Scandal: The Ballinger-Pinchot Scandal exploded in November 1909 when conservationist Gifford Pinchot revealed that Richard Ballinger, the Secretary of the Interior, had made nearly 1 million acres of Alaskan public forests and coal fields open to private development.

US and the Mexican Revolution
Summary of the US and the Mexican Revolution: The US and the Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1920) saw two episodes of intervention and involvement by the US in the Mexican Revolution led by revolutionaries including Francisco "Pancho" Villa and Emiliano Zapata Salazar.

Mann-Elkins Act of 1910
Summary of the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910: The Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 set railroad rates and regulate the telecommunications industry. The new law extended the authority of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to cover telephones, telegraphs and radio companies.

1910 Postal Savings System
Summary of the Postal Savings System: The Postal Savings System was established by the Postal Savings Depository Act of 1910 introducing a system whereby certificates or savings stamps were issued to depositors as proof of their deposit and could be exchanged in amounts of $20 or more for postal savings bonds.

1910: Angel Island Immigration Station
Summary of the Angel Island Immigration Station: The Angel Island Immigration Station was opened on January 21, 1910 in San Francisco Bay, California as a detention center for  immigrants from China, Japan and Asia.

1912: Alcatraz Prison
Summary of Alcatraz Prison: The new Alcatraz Prison construction was completed in 1912 as a high security penitentiary to house murderers, gangsters and bank robbers.

1912: Sinking of the Titanic
Summary of the Sinking of the Titanic: The Sinking of the Titanic  occurred on 15 April 1912 when the British passenger ship struck an iceberg and sank into the North Atlantic Ocean. A total of 1523 people died, there were only 705 survivors on the "unsinkable" ship.