What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedWilliam Howard Taft
Jeffrey Rosen · Book · 2018
If you loved William Howard Taft, start with The Roosevelts: An Intimate History (Ken Burns, 2014) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to William Howard Taft across media.
If you appreciated the way William Howard Taft wrestled with the heavy burden of institutional duty, you will value these portraits of leadership.
Films on the same thread
The American President
Rob Reiner · Film · 1995
Explores: Power dynamics, Public image vs. private life, Dating While Famous.
Much like William Howard Taft, Andrew Shepherd finds his personal desires constantly at odds with the rigid expectations and scrutiny that define the office of the American presidency.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
This study of moral ambiguity and legacy mirrors the internal conflict found in William Howard Taft as he navigated the weight of history and his own professional responsibilities.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Frank Capra · Film · 1939
Explores: Political Corruption, Idealism vs. Cynicism, David vs. Goliath.
The struggle between idealism and cynical political corruption presented here echoes the constitutional vigilance that William Howard Taft championed against populist threats to the American democratic system.
Frost/Nixon
Ron Howard · Film · 2008
Explores: Power dynamics, Truth vs. Deception, Redemption.
This examination of a leader confronting his own record reflects the same introspective look at power and institutional legacy that defines the life of William Howard Taft.
Series on the same thread
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
Ken Burns · Series · 2014
Explores: American Presidency, Family Dynasty, Social Reform.
If the political dynasty and social reform context of William Howard Taft intrigued you, this series offers a deeper, intimate look at the figures who shaped American history.
Chief of War
Thomas Pa'a Sibbett · Series · 2025
Explores: Unification, Cultural Preservation, Colonialism.
The intense pressure of unifying a divided nation under an existential threat calls back to the reluctant leadership and heavy burden of duty held by William Howard Taft.
The Looming Tower
Lawrence Wright · Series · 2018
Explores: Counterterrorism, Intelligence Failure, Bureaucratic Inefficiency.
The focus on bureaucratic inefficiency and institutional failure provides a dark counterpoint to the orderly constitutional vision that William Howard Taft spent his career trying to preserve.
John Adams
Kirk Ellis · Series · 2008
Explores: American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Early American History.
Like William Howard Taft, John Adams was a man deeply concerned with the legal and constitutional foundations of the nation, frequently prioritizing principle over the ease of politics.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe · Podcast · 2026
Explores: untold historical anecdotes, curiosity-driven learning, American cultural history.
The curiosity-driven exploration of historical figures and obscure anecdotes provides a narrative companion to the meticulous legal and political history detailed in the biography of William Howard Taft.
How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery · Podcast · 2026
Explores: failure and resilience, innovation processes, corporate origin stories.
The focus on the resilience required to build lasting institutions mirrors the professional endurance William Howard Taft demonstrated while serving as both president and chief justice.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is William Howard Taft by Jeffrey Rosen focused on his political career?
While it covers his time as president, the book emphasizes that William Howard Taft preferred serving as chief justice. It examines how he approached his decisions through a constitutional lens, specifically focusing on his efforts to defend the vision of the Founders against populist threats to democracy.
Did William Howard Taft actually want to be president?
According to the book William Howard Taft by Jeffrey Rosen, he never wanted to be president. He experienced significant ambivalence regarding his time in politics and yearned instead for his eventual role as the chief justice of the United States.
What is the primary focus of the book William Howard Taft?
The book William Howard Taft examines the life of the only man to serve as both president and chief justice. It highlights his dedication to constitutional principles and his commitment to protecting the Founders’ vision of American democracy from rising populist threats during his time in office.
How does William Howard Taft view the Founders' vision?
In the book William Howard Taft, Jeffrey Rosen explains that Taft viewed his legal and presidential decisions in constitutional terms. He consistently sought to defend the Founders’ vision of American democracy, viewing it as a system that required protection against new populist threats during his era.