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All the United States Connecticut New Haven The Taft Chair at Woolsey Hall

The Taft Chair at Woolsey Hall

An extra-wide chair built to accommodate the former president's big behind.

New Haven, Connecticut

Added By
Joshua Foer
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Taft’s personal chair.   Yale Alumni Magazine
Taft’s personal chair.   Yale Alumni Magazine
William Taft campaign poster, presidential election 1908.   Wikimedia
Anders L. Zorn’s presidential portrait of Taft.   Wikimedia
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About

When he left office in 1913 President William Howard Taft went on to teach at Yale University, an institution which was more than willing to accommodate the man's notorious waistline with specially built chairs.

When Taft began teaching at the school its said that he was tipping the scales at over 300 pounds. In order to make the enthusiastic leader more comfortable Yale built and installed a number of special chairs with extra-wide seats. Most of these special chairs have disappeared, four of them remain. Of the four extant seats, three of them have been put on display, but the permanently installed chair in Woolsey Hall is still in use today. The chair is in the balcony of the hall and any concert goers packing any presidential poundage would do well to seek out seat E-9.   

 

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Added By

Josh

Edited By

littlebrumble, EricGrundhauser

  • littlebrumble
  • EricGrundhauser

Published

January 29, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/19/nyregion/a-president-s-custom-seat-still-best-in-the-house.html
  • http://www.yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/3632#sthash.IfE57oiY.dpuf
The Taft Chair at Woolsey Hall
168 Grove Street
New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
United States
41.311698, -72.925541
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Nearby Places

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

New Haven, Connecticut

miles away

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

New Haven, Connecticut

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Grave of Arthur Twining Hadley

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Haven

New Haven

Connecticut

Places 17
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

New Haven, Connecticut

miles away

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

New Haven, Connecticut

miles away

Grave of Arthur Twining Hadley

New Haven, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Haven

New Haven

Connecticut

Places 17
Stories 3

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