President Warren G. Harding’s nomination of William Howard Taft as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, June 30, 1921

At the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft ran for President in 1908 thus deferring his lifelong dream to be Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Taft was elected, served one term as President, and lost his bid for reelection. In 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated Taft to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a position he held until 1930. Taft remains the only former President to serve as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Records of the U.S. Senate
National Archives