Ethics in Service

by William Howard Taft

In describing the principles of non-remuneration to the Scribes, the learned German Professor Schurer says: "In Christ's censures of the Scribes and Pharisees, their covetousness is a special object of reproof. Hence, even if their instruction was given gratuitously, they certainly knew how to compensate themselves in some other way." And it is because of this evasion of this rule that we find those passages in the eleventh chapter of Luke, the 46th and 52d verses, which read: Verse 46. "And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers." Verse 52. "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

William Howard Taft was an American politician, the twenty-seventh President of the United States, the tenth Chief Justice of the United States, a leader of the progressive conservative wing of the Republican Party in the early 20th century, a pioneer in international arbitration and staunch advocate of world peace verging on pacifism, and scion of a leading political family, the Tafts, of Ohio.

Taft served as the Solicitor General of the United States, a federal judge, Governor-General of the Philippines, and Secretary of War before being nominated for President in the 1908 Republican National Convention with the backing of his predecessor and close friend Theodore Roosevelt.

His presidency was characterized by trust-busting, strengthening the Interstate Commerce Commission, expanding the civil service, establishing a better postal system, and promoting world peace. Roosevelt broke with Taft in 1911, charging Taft was too reactionary. Taft and the conservatives were alarmed at Roosevelt's attacks on the judiciary, and took control of the party machinery. Taft defeated Roosevelt for the Republican nomination in a bruising battle in 1912 that forced Roosevelt out of the GOP and left Taft's people in charge for decades. William Howard Taft remains the only U.S. President to finish third in a bid for reelection to a second consecutive term. During World War I he helped set national labor policy that reduced strikes and generated union support for the national cause. In 1921, he became Chief Justice. As President and Chief Justice he helped make the federal courts, especially the Supreme Court, much more powerful in shaping national policy. To date he is the only former president to serve on the Supreme Court.

Reviews

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Howard Taft is positively brilliant in his assessment of both the law and politics and lists several pitfalls that apply even today. It's no wonder that he later became Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court after he was President.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖊 “Addresses Delivered in the Page Lecture Series, 1914, before the Senior Class of the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University New Haven: MDCCCCXV, Copyright, 1915 By Yale University Press First printed October, 1915, 1000 copies.“ 🔻 These essays by President William Howard Taft are as important today as they were in 1914. Intelligently written, each is a lesson today. It is a must-read.

CONTENTS:
• I. History of the Profession of Law.
• II. Legal Ethics
• III. The Executive Power
• IV. The Signs of the Times
• V. More Signs of the Times

📕Published in 1915.

જ⁀🟢 E-book version on Project Gutenberg.
જ⁀🟣 Kindle.
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My ratings for this work:
Content: ★★★★★
Grammar: ★★★★★
Writing style: ★★★★☆
Ease of reading: ★★★★☆
My recommendation: ★★★★★
My total rating for this work: ★★★★★ (4.6)

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure all of Taft’s conclusions were on target, but I have to appreciate that he thoughtfully considered his positions and took the rule of law more seriously than he did political expediency.