[76]

First Lady's illness
Early in Taft's term, in May 1909, his wife Nellie had a severe stroke that left her paralysed in one arm and one leg and deprived her of the power of speech. Taft spent several hours each day looking after her and teaching her to speak again, which took a year.[77]

Foreign policy
Organization and principles

BEP engraved portrait of Taft as President

Taft made it a priority to restructure the State Department, noting, "it is organized on the basis of the needs of the government in 1800 instead of 1900."[78] The Department was for the first time organized into geographical divisions, including desks for the Far East, Latin America and Western Europe.[79] The department's first in-service training program was established, and appointees spent a month in Washington before going to their posts.[80] Taft and Secretary of State Knox had a strong relationship, and the president listened to his counsel on matters foreign and domestic. According to historian Paolo E. Coletta, Knox was not a good diplomat, and had poor relations with the Senate, press, and many foreign leaders, especially those from Latin America.