William Howard Taft III (August 7, 1915 – February 23, 1991) was the grandson of William Howard Taft and served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 1953 to 1957. His task was made easier by the fact that John A. Costello, Taoiseach 1954-57 was a personal friend; Taft described Costello as "pleasant and unassuming" whereas he had found Éamon de Valera "formal and aloof". (His predecessor George A. Garrett, had also found Costello more sympathetic than De Valera). Taft played a considerable part in organising Costello's successful State visit to the United States in March 1956. Taft was also a member of the Metropolitan Club of Washington D.C. until at least the mid-1980s, perhaps later. Taft was the father of William Howard Taft IV.
Famous quotes containing the words william, howard, taft and/or iii:
“Oh! a private buffoon is a light-hearted loon,
If you listen to popular rumour;
From morning to night he’s so joyous and bright,
And he bubbles with wit and good humour!”
—Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
“Doctor, I want you to make it known to your government that it can trust us implicitly, for we do not want any of your territory. We only want your trade.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“On the whole, yes, I would rather be the Chief Justice of the United States, and a quieter life than that which becomes at the White House is more in keeping with the temperament, but when taken into consideration that I go into history as President, and my children and my children’s children are the better placed on account of that fact, I am inclined to think that to be President well compensates one for all the trials and criticisms he has to bear and undergo.”
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“The Empress is Legitimist, my cousin is Republican, Morny is Orleanist, I am a socialist; the only Bonapartist is Persigny, and he is mad.”
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