Monday, August 5, 2013

Whose Home

The birth and childhood home of William Howard Taft, 27th U.S. president and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.  The only person to have served both as a chief justice and president.
We drive by this home often.
Taft earned the nickname "Big Lub" due to his size -- he was almost 6 feet tall and weighed more than 350 pounds.  Taft became stuck in a bathtub while serving as president -- staffers used butter to dislodge him.  Bawheheeeeee
He was the first president to be buried in Arlington Cemetery, and the first to have a funeral broadcast on the radio. In fact, President Taft's presidential career included a broad range of "firsts": He was the first president to have a presidential automobile, converting the White House stables into garages; the first to occupy the Oval Office, which was operational as of October 1909; the first to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game; and the first to play golf as a hobby. Along with all of his "firsts," Taft was the last American president to have facial hair.

I, Sweet William The Scot, am here!
Knock Knock!
 Who's there?
How!
How who?
How do we get in there?
Knock, Knock!
Who's there?
Bow!
Bow who?
Not bow who, bow wow!
Let me in!! 
Last door for me to try. 
 Knock Knock! 
Who's there?
Pooch!
Pooch who?
Pooch your arms around me, because they are not letting me in! 
Entrance hallway.
See the cord hanging over the table.  The home had gas lights.
The colors are vibrant with many mixed patterns.
 
Lee loves marble tables.
 The menus and invitations to their parties.  The menus look delicious.
 
The key to The City of Manila 1905.  Wonder if they have changed the locks?
Maybe they will let a dog in.
Political Satire Cartoons of the day.
 
Taft's wife, Nellie, did her part for foreign relations as well, initiating the planting of Japan's gift of
thousands of cherry trees that still grace the avenues and banks of the Tidal Basin, changing the face of Washington, D.C. each spring.
 
This house sits across the street from the big hospital where Lee goes for her sickies.
 
Thanks for being a friend
Traveling down the road and back again
Your heart is true and your a friend of mine
Signing Off

Sweet William The Scot

Pssss ~ Just something cute we found on the internut
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=VRgQaOOZRo4

24 comments :

  1. Those menus do look delicious. Forest products are a major food group.

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  2. Have to confess, SW, that neither Gail nor I knew a single thing about William Howard Taft before we read this interesting and informative post. And now we know lots. Roll on the next quiz night.
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie.

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  3. First ringy-dingy...First ringy-dingy...oh dear, the ringer isn't ringing right!

    What a house!!! So many different fabrics and prints...I belt they wouldn't let dogs in because it is too overwhelming with all those crazy patterns.

    So good to see you and your Lee out and about in the city and 'burbs, Sir William! I am so happy you are back!
    *BIG Cairn cuddles* for my fellow Scot!
    Oz

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  4. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWw YESSSSSS We can comment NOW Also.

    Wheeeeeew... Squirrels MUST have been messin with your thingys. Bad Squirrels... BAD EVIL SQUIRRELS.

    We Loved ♥ this post about Taft...
    Now WE get Stuck in the Baff Tub sometimes... when we get NICE and Decorated with OUTDOORS STUFFS... butt mom and dad don't put BUTTER on us when we are in there... they just pick our WET selves Up and wrap us in Towels.
    WE are so glad that you posted this... what an ELEGANT home that was/is.

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  5. Yay - the comments are back!!!!! Ringa Ding Ding :) We did enjoy the tour of President Tafts house and the funny story about him - how embarrassing it must of been. And that photo showing him from elephant to man - I guess he wasn't very well liked. Thanks for sharing you adventure with us - we sure are happy to see you out and about

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  6. Yes, but did he have a scottie!!!

    Thanks for taking us on a tour. Don't know much about Taft...one of the mostly forgotten in the world of politics. Also, didn't know about the Cherry Trees....

    Hope your foot's feeling better.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  7. Wow thanks for all the cool historical info. I wondered how he was at golf since he must have had a pretty big tummy(giggles). That place is beautiful. You live in a really cool area, cause you are always teaching us about your sites and it is pawsome. Thanks.


    Loveys Sasha

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  8. That is a wonderful tour! We just don't have much history around here. Mom loves going east to see all the historical stuffs.

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  9. Hey Sweet William!
    Wow, what a cool post about the Big Pres! My peeps didn't know any of that fun stuff. That's great about the cherry trees and the house is very pretty. Thanks so much for sharing these pawesome facts and I think they should let you in!
    Grr and Woof,
    Sarge, Furiend

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  10. Very cool historic house!! I love visiting those.

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  11. What do you mean...NO DOGS ALLOWED! Who ever thought up that rule should be hung by their toes from the ceiling fan.

    We enjoyed your tour and we really enjoyed that video. Thank you for sharing!

    :)

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    Replies
    1. Yeah and the setting to that fan should be "emulsify"

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  12. Thank you for the tour - sorry that dogs were not allowed! Lee and Phod

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  13. We just loved this post - mom LOVES anything to do with history and museums and old stuff...so by default so do we.

    How wonderful it is to have a SW post again - we miss you terribly.

    xxx

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  14. Hi all. We could not find comments yesterday but we see they are on today. Hooray. We loved seeing the house and reading all about Taft. Hope all is well. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  15. You always have the most fun and interesting adventures, William.
    Your blog looks just beautiful!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

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  16. thanks, sweet william! what a great tour and history lesson! mum liked the entrance hallway best (personally it made me dizzy looking at all the patterns). glad to hear you and lee are doing we (and we hope she's not visiting that nearby hospital often!)

    edgar and his mum

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  17. Thanks for inviting me to this fabulous tour, William. I wish they would invite me to such a gala dinner - I would so much that I would stuck in a bathtub too. The marble table is really beautiful.

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  18. Oh Sweet William, you and Lee are always goin' on some amazin' adventures!! I loved this postie! Ma knew most of that stuffs about Taft, butts she still loves the bathtub story!! hehehehe
    Oh, and that video was HILARIOUS!!!!
    OMD, Ma is still chucklin'!
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  19. Loved your knock knock jokes. An loved the part about if they changed the locks to the key of the city. Too funny!

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  20. Wow - whatta house! Love it. Hope you're both keeping well

    RooOooodles, Bobby xxx

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  21. What a super house! What?! You didn't get in? How unfair! Did you not sneak in through a window?
    All that facts were interesting, and your jokes were very funny!
    Pippa :)

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  22. Wow - I learned alot about President Taft. I can't believe they wouldn't let you in his house, don't they know all Presidents like pets.
    JO

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  23. Sweet William this is what cames up when I do a search for the quilt. Could you send me a picture of it in email??

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