Taft held many public service offices during his illustrious career, including the presidency of the United States from 1909 to 1913. He began his career as a journalist and then a lawyer. He worked as a prosecutor for Hamilton County, Ohio, before becoming a superior court judge in 1887. He then served for one year as solicitor general of the United States and judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He also held the following positions: governor of the Philippines, U.S. secretary of war, and joint chairman of the National War Labor Board.