'Presidents of the Gilded Age, Part 10: William Howard Taft' Webinar

The period known as the American Gilded Age (late 1860s -1910s) saw America grow from a nation fractured by Civil War to an emerging superpower at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was also defined by tremendous economic and industrial wealth consolidated in the hands of a few — all while immigration surged, corruption was commonplace, a labor movement was formed, the West was won, and America became an imperialist power. Who were the presidents during this critical era, and how did their political successes and failures shape the course of the nation? With the help of a presidential historian, it's time to uncover the personal stories and legacies of eight U.S. Presidents and how their actions are still relevant to this very day.

Join New York Adventure Club for a ten-part series surrounding the Presidents of the United States who held office between 1865 and 1913 — a period known as the American Gilded Age. In Part Ten: William Howard Taft, we’ll explore how this brilliant legal mind, who never truly wanted to be president, forged his own legacy on both the executive and judicial branches of American government.

Led by presidential historian Louis L. Picone, this unique experience will include:

• Taft’s early life in Cincinnati, Ohio, including his Yale University education and promising legal career
• His rapid rise through legal and political ranks, serving as Governor‑General of the Philippines and Secretary of War under Theodore Roosevelt

• A deep dive into Taft’s underrated presidency, from trust‑busting and civil service reform to his “Dollar Diplomacy” foreign policy initiatives
• The personal side of Taft, from his marriage and challenges with weight to his love of golf and his historic role in Major League Baseball’s opening pitch tradition
• The tumultuous election of 1912, when Taft’s former friend and mentor, Theodore Roosevelt, became his political adversary
• His crowning professional achievement as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, fulfilling his lifelong dream

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Louis — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

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***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Louis

Louis L. Picone is the award-winning author of Grant's Tomb: The Epic Death of Ulysses S. Grant and the Making of an American Pantheon, The President Is Dead! The Extraordinary Stories of the Presidential Deaths, Final Days, Burials, and Beyond, Where the Presidents Were Born: The History & Preservation of the Presidential Birthplaces and the forthcoming (Spring 2026) Ulysses’s Odyssey: Ulysses S. Grant’s World Tour at the Dawn of American Empire.

Louis is a member of the American Historical Association, More Perfect, and is also the committee Chairman of the Grover Cleveland Presidential Library in Caldwell, NJ. He holds a Masters in History and also teaches at William Paterson University.

Louis has spoken widely on the topic of the presidents and the places we commemorate them, including the White House Historical Association Presidential Sites Summit in Dallas; James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Ohio; Ulysses S. Grant's Tomb in New York City, and the international conference "U.S. Presidents and Russian Rulers" at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. He has appeared on various media outlets, including C-Span, Time Magazine, the BBC, NPR, and the Washington Post. Louis was also featured on the television program "American Mystery" on the Travel Channel to discuss the mystery of JFK's missing brain.

Presidents of the Gilded Age Series

Part 1: Andrew Johnson (Wednesday, September 3)

Part 2: Ulysses S. Grant (Friday, September 12)

Part 3: Rutherford B. Hayes (Wednesday, September 17)

Part 4: James Garfield (Wednesday, September 24)

Part 5: Chester A. Arthur (Wednesday, October 1)

Part 6: Grover Cleveland (Wednesday, October 8)

Part 7: Benjamin Harrison (Wednesday, October 15)

Part 8: William McKinley (Wednesday, October 22)

Part 9: Theodore Roosevelt (Wednesday, October 29)

Part 10: William Howard Taft (Wednesday, November 5)

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Categories: Virtual, Gilded Age