{{short description|American journalist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Hulbert Taft | image = HulbertTaftSr-ca1955.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date|1877|9|19}} | birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio | death_date = {{death date and age|1959|1|19|1877|9|19}} | death_place = Cincinnati, Ohio | resting_place = Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio | alma_mater = Yale University | occupation = Journalist | employer = Cincinnati Times-Star | title = Publisher | predecessor = Charles Phelps Taft | successor = David S. Ingalls | spouse = Nellie P. Leaman (1880–1927)<br />Virginia Kittredge (1899–1942)<br />Eleanor Gholson (1891–1980) | children = Hulbert Taft, Jr. (1907–1967)<br />Katherine Taft Benedict (1909–2001)<br />Margot Taft Tytus (1913–2008)<br />David G. Taft (1915–1962) | mother = Annie Matilda Hulbert (1858–1923) | father = Peter Rawson Taft II (1846–1889) | relatives = Alphonso Taft (grandfather)<br />William Howard Taft (Uncle)<br />Charles Phelps Taft (uncle)<br />Robert A. Taft (cousin)<br />Charles Phelps Taft II (cousin) | family = Taft family }}
'''Hulbert Taft''' (September 19, 1877 – January 19, 1959) was an American journalist, publisher, and member of the Taft family of Ohio.
As editor, publisher, and later, chairman of the board of directors, of the ''Cincinnati Times-Star,'' Taft was an influential figure in local and national politics throughout the first half of the twentieth century.
He was a grandson of Alphonso Taft, Secretary of War during the Grant administration; a nephew of President William Howard Taft; and cousin of Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/101230604/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft|title=Death Signs Last '30' for Hulbert Taft, Sr., 81|date=January 20, 1959|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1}}</ref>
== Biography == Hulbert Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 19, 1877. He was the only son of Peter Rawson Taft II (half brother of William Howard Taft) and Annie Matilda Hulbert.
Following his graduation from Yale University in 1900, Taft joined the staff of the ''Cincinnati Times-Star'' as a reporter, and became the Editor in 1908. His uncle, Charles Phelps Taft had been the paper's owner and Publisher since 1880. When Charles died in 1929, Hulbert Taft was named Publisher.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/103965290/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft|title=Nephew Succeeds Uncle|date=January 14, 1930|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|pages=2}}</ref> Among his more noteworthy assignments, were interviews with Benito Mussolini, in 1929, and later, with Leon Trotsky.<ref>{{Cite book|title=America's Political Dynasties|last=Hess|first=Stephen|publisher=Brookings Institution Press|year=2016|isbn=9780815727101|location=Washington, DC|pages=333|quote="(Hulbert Taft)...scored two notable exclusives, a 1929 interview with Mussolini....and a later interview with Trotsky..."}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1959/01/20/89108299.pdf|title=Hulbert Taft, 81, Long a Publisher|date=January 20, 1959|work=The New York Times|pages=35}}</ref>
Taft was well known for his political conservatism. The journalist and author John Gunther, in his book ''Inside U.S.A.'' referred to Hulbert Taft as the "most conservative man I met in forty-eight states".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Inside U.S.A|url=https://archive.org/details/insideusa0000gunt_j5c5|url-access=registration|last=Gunther|first=John|publisher=Harper & Brothers|year=1951|pages=[https://archive.org/details/insideusa0000gunt_j5c5/page/474 474]|quote=Hulbert Taft is the most conservative man I met in forty-eight states}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100215780/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft|title=City 'Packed With Charm', According to John Gunther|date=June 14, 1947|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=5-A}}</ref> Taft's editorials and political endorsements published in the ''Cincinnati Times-Star'' made him an influential figure in local and national politics for fifty years.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/103296552/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft|title=Mr. Times-Star|date=April 18, 1954|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|pages=2, Section 3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100807148/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft|title=Hail and Farewell|date=July 24, 1958|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|pages=4}}</ref> Many considered him a "king maker". Political candidates viewed his endorsements as "tantamount to election".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hurter|first=Jerry|year=1984|title=Hulbert Taft's Missing Editorial|journal=Cincinnati Magazine|volume=December 1984|pages=55–64}}</ref>
Taft retired as Publisher of the ''Cincinnati Times-Star'' in 1954, but remained as chairman of the board of Directors until 1958, when the newspaper was acquired by the E.W. Scripps Company.<ref name=":0" />
== Family == Hulbert Taft was married three times. His first marriage to Nellie Phillips Leaman on April 4, 1904, produced four children: Hulbert Taft, Jr.; Katherine Phillips Taft Benedict; Margot Leaman Taft Tytus; and David Gibson Taft.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
His second marriage was to Nellie's niece, Virginia Kittredge, on July 21, 1928. Eleanor Lawrence Gholson, Taft's third wife, was a distant relative of Virginia's. Their marriage occurred on April 9, 1946.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Taft, Hulbert}} Category:Journalists from Ohio Hulbert Category:1877 births Category:1959 deaths