ABSTRACT
Robert A. Taft was an eminent member of that body of republican governors. Taft had as good a claim to the chief honor which American party can bestow as any American politician ever possessed. In state politics, however, Taft took a considerable hand from 1920 to 1938. He had commenced as a Republican precinct worker; his terms in the Ohio House had established his reputation for political ability. In the Ohio Senate, he became known as expert in fiscal matters, attracting much attention throughout the state by his determined endeavor to revise Ohio's antiquated tax system. In 1939, Taft set out to rebuild his enfeebled party upon a foundation of principle, as an instrument of resistance to the New Deal. Had the New Deal seemed less revolutionary in character, probably Taft would have remained a Cincinnati lawyer. Taft retired temporarily from politics after his defeat for re-election in the Democratic landslide of 1932.
