Robert Taft Jr.

Robert Alphonso Taft Jr. was an American politician affiliated with the Ohio Taft family. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 26, 1917, and died on December 7, 1993. Taft served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, holding office from 1963 to 1965 and again from 1967 to 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator representing Ohio from 1971 to 1976.

Early Life and Family Background:

Robert Alphonso Taft Jr. was the second of four sons born to Robert Alphonso Taft Sr. and Martha Wheaton Bowers. His paternal grandparents were William Howard Taft, who served as the President of the United States, and First Lady Helen Louise "Nellie" Herron Taft. His maternal grandparents were Lloyd Wheaton Bowers, who served as Solicitor General of the United States from 1909 to 1910, and Louisa Bennett Wilson. His siblings included William Howard Taft III, who served as the Ambassador to Ireland from 1953 to 1957; Lloyd Bowers Taft, an investment banker in Cincinnati; and Horace Dwight Taft, a physics professor and dean at Yale University.

Education:

Taft graduated from Yale University in 1939. He then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1942.

Military Service:

During World War II, Taft served as an officer in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946.

Legal Career:

After completing his law degree, Taft joined the law firm Taft, Stettinius, and Hollister in Cincinnati, which was founded by his father.

Political Career:

State Legislature:

Taft served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1955 until 1962.

U.S. House of Representatives:

In 1962, Taft was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as an at-large representative from Ohio, prior to the Voting Rights Act's prohibition of at-large seats. In 1964, he ran for the U.S. Senate but was defeated by Stephen M. Young. He returned to the House in 1966 by defeating incumbent John J. Gilligan and was re-elected in 1968, defeating Democrat Carl F. Heiser.

U.S. Senate:

In 1970, Taft was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Stephen M. Young, who did not seek re-election. He served from January 1971 to January 1976. Taft lost his re-election bid in a rematch against Howard Metzenbaum. He resigned from the Senate six days before his term ended to resume practicing law.

Personal Life:

In 1939, Taft married Blanca Duncan Noel (1917–1968), daughter of Lewis W. Noel and Natalie Duncan. They had four children: Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft III (born 1942), who served as Governor of Ohio from 1999 to 2007; Sarah Butler Taft; Deborah Taft; and Jonathan Duncan Taft.

Following Blanca Noel's death, Taft married Katherine Longworth Whittaker, widow of his distant cousin David Gibson Taft. The couple divorced in 1977. In October 1978, Taft married Joan McKelvy, also from Cincinnati.

Death:

On November 29, 1993, Taft suffered a stroke, resulting in a coma. He passed away on December 7, 1993. Joan McKelvy Taft died on January 16, 2015.