Rub a Dub Dub, President in a Tub by Cindy Regnier

 William Howard Taft served as president of the United States from 1909-1913. He did many noteworthy things in his presidency including “trust-busting,” initiating some 80 antitrust suits against large industrial combinations, empowering the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to set railroad rates, and supporting constitutional amendments mandating a federal income tax (now you know who to blame for April 15th woes) and the direct election of senators by the people (as opposed to appointment by state legislatures). After his presidency he was appointed as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1921 to 1930 becoming the only man in history to hold the highest post in both the executive and judicial branches of the U.S. government. And as a note for sports fans, Taft was the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.

Despite all that, Taft is remembered not for his contributions to history but for his, um, ‘corpulence.’ Simply put, he was quite overweight. He is said to have weighed about 350 pounds during his presidency. And that problem he fought all of his life became the basis of a widespread rumor that holds no truth, but is still told as if it really happened.

So, here’s the rumor. While bathing in the White House one evening, Mr. Taft got stuck and was unable to remove himself from the tub. As the story goes, it took 4 men to pry him loose and get him out, that and a gallon of butter used as a lubricant. Yes, it’s a funny story, but it didn’t happen. If you’ve ever heard this rumor told about Mr. Taft, make a note to yourself: Not True!

And, the rest of the story, the true part? It may be even better than the rumor. Just weeks after his election, the captain of a warship requested an oversized tub for the ship that was to carry the president-elect on a mission to inspect the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, such a tub could not be found so one was custom made. It is said to have been over seven feet long, more than 41 inches wide and weighed nearly a ton. A photograph in the February 1909 showed the huge presidential bathtub with four men sitting comfortably inside.

Newspapers even reported on this fascinating subject. It seems that similarly huge tubs were ordered and installed in the White House, on the presidential yacht and inside Taft’s brother’s home in Texas. How embarrassing would it be to have your bathing habits printed in the newspaper? But it got even worse.

 After Taft left the White House at the end of his presidency, he stayed in a hotel in Cape May, New Jersey. Without access to his specially made tubs, he squeezed into the hotel tub, thereby displacing so much of the water filling it that it spilled over and flooded the floor. The flood leaked through and rained down on the guests in the downstairs dining room. The newspapers reported that as Taft gazed at the Atlantic Ocean the next day, he wistfully commented, “I’ll get a piece of that fenced in some day, and then when I venture in, there won’t be any overflow.”

Now you know the real story, and as a writer I can tell you that truth is often stranger (and funnier) than fiction. What do you think? Was Taft the victim of a make-believe scandal told to damage his political career or prestige as a Supreme Court justice? Or did he just prefer the “stuck” story to that of the very embarrassing public shower he provided to hotel guests?

Scribbling in notebooks has been a habit of Cindy Regnier since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Born and raised in Kansas, she writes stories of historical Kansas, especially the Flint Hills area where she spent much of her childhood. Her experiences with the Flint Hills setting, her natural love for history, farming and animals, along with her interest in genealogical research give her the background and passion to write heart-fluttering historical romance..

The New Frontenac Hotel

During the Thousand Islands Gilded Age, dozens of resorts popped up to serve the wealthy clientele from New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and more. The New Frontenac Hotel was just one, but it became a world-famous resort for over a decade. 

Daniel and Jane Porter of Clayton purchased Round Island in 1878 for $9,000. They built the Round Island Hotel, but it wasn’t too successful. They leased it, renovated it, added wings that included a bowling and billiards wing, and renamed it the Hotel Frontenac.

Calumet Island’s Charles G Emery had a big plan when the Round Island Company assumed control of it in 1898. He contracted a huge remodel with the intent of making the New Frontenac a world class hotel, and the best hotel in the Thousand Islands. He added a brick kitchen and firewall to prevent a kitchen fire to spread, a new wing with a ball room and dining room, and a separate building, called The Annex.

The New Frontenac Hotel became a luxury resort hotel where the rich and famous, including William Howard Taft, Secretary of War in Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration and later President Taft. So did the Maharaja and Maharani of Baroda who was said to have more money than Rockefeller. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver and Alva Belmont, of Belmont Stakes fame, spent a month there. So did Prince and Princess Engalitcheff, a Russian prince who came to America penniless with his mother.

The Frontenac had an orchestra that gave regular dances, hops, and balls. Other entertainment included fishing, boating, bowling, archery, golf, and tennis, just to name a few. There were special events weekly, and its wealthy patrons touted its wonders for years.

The New Frontenac hotel was said to have the best fire protection. On the top story of the building, there were great iron tanks holding 23,000 gallons of water. Throughout the buildings were firehoses as well as many hand fire extinguishers. Unfortunately, the Frontenac Hotel burned to the ground in 1911.

About Rachel’s Reunion:

Summer 1904

Rachel Kelly serves the most elite patrons at the famed New Frontenac Hotel on Round Island. She has wondered about her old beau, Mitch, for nearly two years, ever since he toyed with her affections while on Calumet Island, then left for the high seas and taken her heart with him. Now he’s back, opening the wound she thought was healed.

Mitch O’Keefe returns to claim his bride but finds it more difficult than he thought. Returning to work at the very place he hated, he becomes captain of a New Frontenac Hotel touring yacht, just to be near Rachel. But his attempts to win her back are thwarted, especially when a wealthy patron seeks her attention. Who will Rachel choose?

About Susan:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has nine in her fiction line including Peyton’s Promise. Find out more at www.SusanGMathis.com.

William Howard Taft

by Susan G Mathis

Known for his extra-extra-large size, five years before he became President, William Howard Taft served as the U.S. Secretary of War in President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. As a lawyer, judge, and solicitor general, Taft’s rise in politics was interesting. In 1901, President McKinley appointed Taft to be the Philippines’ civilian governor where he served for three years. The Filipinos had fought hard for their independence, but General McArthur wasn’t too keen on the idea of Americans helping the Philippines transition to autonomy and felt it was a foolish attempt to impose self-government on a people who weren’t ready for it. He didn’t like Taft being there either. As the civilian governor, President McKinley gave Taft charge of the island’s military budget and made MacArthur whopping mad.

When Roosevelt made him Secretary of War, Taft was tasked to troubleshoot various difficult situations, be Roosevelt’s legal adviser, and support him. Though Taft wanted to become chief justice, he declined offers to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to fulfill Roosevelt’s vision to become the next Republican president. He had never run for office, but with Roosevelt’s support, Big Bill Taft easily defeated William Jennings Bryan in 1908.

As President, he focused on East Asian affairs more than European affairs, tried to lower trade tariffs, filed anti-trust lawsuits, supported the amendment to require income tax, and intervened in Latin American affairs. A Republican rift developed between Taft’s conservatives and Roosevelt’s progressives, and when Roosevelt challenged Taft for the renomination of 1912, it split the party, giving Wilson the victory.

Taft loved the law more than politics, and he finally got the job he always wanted. He became the first President to be appointed the Chief Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Big Bill was a member of the Skull and Bones society that had a cottage in the Thousand Islands. The Tafts also had a summer home in Quebec, just upriver from the islands. In the summer of 1904, the Tafts stayed at the New Frontenac Hotel on Round Island in the Thousand Islands while working as Teddy’s war secretary. In my story, Rachel’s Reunion, Rachel meets Mr. and Mrs. Taft and hears many of their stories.

Who is your favorite President? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on November 19th for my next post.

About Rachel’s Reunion:

Summer 1904

Rachel Kelly serves the most elite patrons at the famed New Frontenac Hotel on Round Island. She has wondered about her old beau, Mitch, for nearly two years, ever since he toyed with her affections while on Calumet Island, then left for the high seas and taken her heart with him. Now he’s back, opening the wound she thought was healed.



Mitch O’Keefe returns to claim his bride but finds it more difficult than he thought. Returning to work at the very place he hated, he becomes captain of a New Frontenac Hotel touring yacht, just to be near Rachel. But his attempts to win her back are thwarted, especially when a wealthy patron seeks her attention. Who will Rachel choose?

About Susan:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has nine in her fiction line including Peyton’s Promise. Find out more at www.SusanGMathis.com.