Description
White House photograph of President William H. Taft, inscribed to his friend and political advisor, Joseph B. Kealing, just days after he helped Taft secure the 1912 Republican presidential nomination from the insurgent candidacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt.
Black and white photograph, measures 25cm x 35cm. Photography by Harris & Ewing of Washington, D.C., taken before the presidential campaign of 1912.
Inscribed by President Taft along the bottom quarter: “For my friend, Hon. Joseph B. Kealing of Indiana with grateful appreciation and best wishes. Wm. H. Taft / July 3, 1912.”
Joseph B. Kealing (1859-1927) was a United States District Attorney from Indianapolis and a political confidant of President William H. Taft. He was a member of the Republican Party of Indiana and head of the party’s delegation to the Republican National Convention in 1908 and 1912, helping both times to secure the nomination for his friend, Taft. At the 1912 convention, Kealing was dispatched by Taft’s political operation to secure the party nomination for Taft, against the insurgent attempt by former President Roosevelt. Judge Kealing did so on June 22, 1912, with Taft winning the nomination on the first ballot vote.
