The Big Lub

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The Big Lub
Legend has it President William Howard Taft once got stuck in a White House bathtub and that servants had to use butter to pry him out. Although this has never been confirmed, it was well known that our 27th U.S. president was quite overweight and undoubtedly America’s biggest leader. William Taft’s presidential campaign was very successful with the guidance and advocacy of Theodore Roosevelt, taking office on March 4, 1909. During his inauguration in 1909, Taft weighed in at “around 354 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame…”(Hellmich1) and was called the “Big Lub” during his college years. As successful as his campaign was, Taft’s presidential term was not as easy going in which he states “I don't remember that I ever was president” (William Howard Taft Biography), losing the faith of the Republican majority in Congress and the support of Theodore Roosevelt by the end of his term. Struggling with many political and personal issues, one issue that always alluded Taft, his weight. In an effort to maintain a healthy weight, President Taft turned to physician Nathaniel Yorke-Davis for a weight-loss plan.
At first President Taft and Nathaniel Yorke-Davis exchanged countless letters in a span of 10 years talking about his food consumption, digestive issues, his workout regiment and his bowel movements. Yorke-Davis was a strict dietitian giving the President a rigid regiment to follow. His diet consisted of “lots of lean meat, fish and vegetables without butter and gluten (wheat) biscuits, which Taft ordered from a bakery in London” (Hellmich 1). The President was also prohibited in eating sugar or any sweets and was only allowed to eat what Nathaniel permitted. As well as providing a list of William Taft’s diet schedule, the phys...

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...ally had to resort to using a cane to help ease pain on his joints after the toll they have gone through throughout the years. Even if his presidential term did not turn out great, Taft was able to achieve something even greater and fulfil his lifelong dream, becoming the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. On March 8, 1930, our 27th U.S. President, William Howard Taft died of heart failure weighing at 280 pounds. Becoming the first president to be laid to rest in the Arlington Cemetery.

Works Cited

Hellmich, Nanci. "President Taft Lost 60 Pounds on a Low-carb Diet." USA Today. Gannett, 14 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
Sifferlin, Alexandra. "The President Taft Diet: Learning from America's Heaviest Leaders." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
"William Howard Taft Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

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