Robert Taft, Jr.
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Robert Taft (generally known as Robert Taft Jr. for the sake of convenience) (February 26, 1917–December 7, 1993) served as a Republican Congressman between 1963 and 1965, and between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U. S. Senator from Ohio between 1971 and 1976.
Taft attended Yale University and Harvard University Law School. Taft served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1955-1962 until winning election to the United States House of Representatives. Taft won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1962 as an at-large representative from Ohio (at-large seats were barred by the Voting Rights Act). In 1964, rather than running for re-election to the House, he ran for the U.S. Senate, but he lost to Stephen M. Young. In 1966, Taft returned to the House of Representatives, unseating Democratic incumbent (and future Governor of Ohio) John J. Gilligan. In 1968, Taft won re-election, defeating Democrat Carl F. Heiser. Taft then won Young's U.S. Senate seat six years after losing to him when Young did not run for re-election, running against Howard Metzenbaum. Taft, however, lost six years later in a rematch against Metzenbaum. He resigned six days before the end of his term to resume the practice of law.
He was the great-great-grandson of Secretary of War Alphonso Taft, grandson of President William H. Taft, the son of Senator Robert Alphonso Taft I, and the father of Ohio Governor Robert Alphonso Taft II.
See also:
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1st District
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, At-Large Seats
- Election Results, U.S. Senator from Ohio
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio
- List of United States Senators from Ohio
| Preceded by: Stephen M. Young | U.S. Senators from Ohio | Succeeded by: Howard M. Metzenbaum |