William Howard Taft: A Discussion with Walter Stahr

We welcome Walter Stahr back to the store to discuss his new book about President William Howard Taft. William Howard Taft was perhaps not a great president, although his limited view of the president’s role looks better today than it did at the time. But Taft’s true claim to greatness lies in his work before and after the White House: five decades of selfless public service culminating as one of the most transformational chief justices in American history. A carefully researched and gracefully written biography, displaying a deep understanding of both political history and human nature, William Howard Taft: A Great American Life thoughtfully reassesses what makes a great American public servant worth remembering. He will be in conversation with our very own Jon Grand.

Walter Stahr is the New York Times bestselling author of Seward: Lincoln’s Indispensable Man, Stanton: Lincoln’s War Secretary, and John Jay: Founding Father. A two-time winner of the Seward Award for Excellence in Civil War Biography, Stahr practiced law in Washington and Asia for more than two decades. He is an honors graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School.