William Howard Taft Campaign Pin, 1908

William Howard Taft was President Theodore Roosevelt's hand-picked successor for the 1908 presidential election--as implied by the open-armed Teddy Bear on this campaign pin. Although Roosevelt's backing helped Taft win the election, Taft became increasingly conservative and lacked Roosevelt's energy, personal magnetism, and public support. Roosevelt's disenchantment with Taft encouraged him to oppose him in the 1912 election.