1908
The 1908 U.S. presidential election was won by William Howard Taft (Republican) with 321 of 483 electoral votes, defeating William Jennings Bryan (Democratic). Electoral vote margin: 159 EV, popular-vote margin +8.5%; turnout 65.7%. The cycle falls in the Progressive Era era of American electoral history.
William Howard Taft and the 1908 map
William Howard Taft, handpicked by Theodore Roosevelt as his successor, easily defeated William Jennings Bryan in his third and final presidential run. Roosevelt personally campaigned for Taft and essentially guaranteed his election. Bryan's progressive positions had moved closer to Roosevelt's, but he could not overcome the Republican advantage in a prosperous era. Taft's more conservative governing style would eventually alienate Roosevelt and lead to their epic 1912 split.
Continuation of Roosevelt's progressive policies; tariff reform
Taft was Roosevelt's chosen successor; Bryan's third and final presidential defeat
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Doris Kearns Goodwin
TR, Taft, and the muckraking press.
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