author
Helen Herron Taft
1861–1943
A politically savvy and unusually active first lady, she helped shape William Howard Taft’s rise and left a lasting mark on the White House. She is still remembered for helping bring Washington’s famous cherry trees to life and for writing a firsthand memoir of public life.
1 Audiobook
Recollections of full years
by Helen Herron Taft
About the author
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 2, 1861, Helen Herron Taft—known to family and friends as Nellie—grew up in a well-connected political family and developed an early fascination with public life. She married William Howard Taft in 1886 and became one of the strongest influences on his career as he moved through national and international public service before winning the presidency.
As first lady from 1909 to 1913, she earned a reputation for being energetic, ambitious, and deeply engaged in Washington life. She is especially associated with the planting of cherry trees in Washington, D.C., a gesture that became one of the city’s best-loved traditions. Even after suffering a stroke soon after entering the White House, she continued to take an active interest in public affairs.
Taft also wrote Recollections of Full Years, published in 1914, giving readers a personal account of politics, travel, and life at the center of government. She died in Washington, D.C., on May 22, 1943, and her long public life helped redefine what many Americans expected from a first lady.