# Hulbert Taft
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{{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](/source/Spring_Grove_Cemetery), [Cincinnati](/source/Cincinnati), Ohio
| alma_mater = [Yale University](/source/Yale_University)
| occupation = Journalist
| employer = [Cincinnati Times-Star](/source/Cincinnati_Times-Star)
| title = Publisher
| predecessor = [Charles Phelps Taft](/source/Charles_Phelps_Taft)
| successor = [David S. Ingalls](/source/David_S._Ingalls)
| spouse = Nellie P. Leaman (1880–1927)
Virginia Kittredge (1899–1942)
Eleanor Gholson (1891–1980)
| children = Hulbert Taft, Jr. (1907–1967)
Katherine Taft Benedict (1909–2001)
Margot Taft Tytus (1913–2008)
David G. Taft (1915–1962)
| mother = Annie Matilda Hulbert (1858–1923)
| father = [Peter Rawson Taft II](/source/Peter_Rawson_Taft_II) (1846–1889)
| relatives = [Alphonso Taft](/source/Alphonso_Taft) (grandfather)
[William Howard Taft](/source/William_Howard_Taft) (Uncle)
[Charles Phelps Taft](/source/Charles_Phelps_Taft) (uncle)
[Robert A. Taft](/source/Robert_A._Taft) (cousin)
[Charles Phelps Taft II](/source/Charles_Phelps_Taft_II) (cousin)
| family = [Taft family](/source/Taft_family)
}}
'''Hulbert Taft''' (September 19, 1877 – January 19, 1959) was an American journalist, publisher, and member of the [Taft family](/source/Taft_family) of [Ohio](/source/Cincinnati).
As editor, publisher, and later, chairman of the board of directors, of the ''[Cincinnati Times-Star](/source/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](/source/Alphonso_Taft), [Secretary of War](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_War) during the [Grant administration](/source/Presidency_of_Ulysses_S._Grant); a nephew of President [William Howard Taft](/source/William_Howard_Taft); and cousin of Ohio Senator [Robert A. Taft](/source/Robert_A._Taft).[{{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}}]
== Biography ==
Hulbert Taft was born in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati), on September 19, 1877. He was the only son of Peter Rawson Taft II (half brother of [William Howard Taft](/source/William_Howard_Taft)) and Annie Matilda Hulbert.
Following his graduation from [Yale University](/source/Yale_University) in 1900, Taft joined the staff of the [''Cincinnati Times-Star''](/source/The_Cincinnati_Times-Star) as a [reporter](/source/Journalist), and became the Editor in 1908. His uncle, [Charles Phelps Taft](/source/Charles_Phelps_Taft) had been the paper's owner and Publisher since 1880. When Charles died in 1929, Hulbert Taft was named Publisher.[{{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}}] Among his more noteworthy assignments, were interviews with [Benito Mussolini](/source/Benito_Mussolini), in 1929, and later, with [Leon Trotsky](/source/Leon_Trotsky).[{{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..."}}][{{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}}]
Taft was well known for his [political conservatism](/source/political_conservatism). The journalist and author [John Gunther](/source/John_Gunther), in his book ''[Inside U.S.A.](/source/Inside_U.S.A._(book))'' referred to Hulbert Taft as the "most conservative man I met in forty-eight states".[{{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}}][{{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}}] Taft's editorials and [political endorsement](/source/political_endorsement)s published in the ''[Cincinnati Times-Star](/source/The_Cincinnati_Times-Star)'' made him an influential figure in local and national politics for fifty years.[{{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}}][{{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}}] Many considered him a "king maker". Political candidates viewed his endorsements as "tantamount to election".[{{Cite journal|last=Hurter|first=Jerry|year=1984|title=Hulbert Taft's Missing Editorial|journal=Cincinnati Magazine|volume=December 1984|pages=55–64}}]
Taft retired as Publisher of the ''[Cincinnati Times-Star](/source/The_Cincinnati_Times-Star)'' in 1954, but remained as [chairman of the board](/source/Chairman) of Directors until 1958, when the newspaper was acquired by the [E.W. Scripps Company.](/source/E._W._Scripps_Company)