In 1896 , Taft became dean and Professor of Property at his '' alma mater '' , the Cincinnati Law School , a post that required him to prepare and give two hour-long lectures each week . He was devoted to his law school , and was deeply committed to legal education , introducing the case method to the curriculum . As a federal judge , Taft could not involve himself with politics , but followed it closely , remaining a Republican supporter . He watched with some disbelief as the campaign of Ohio Governor William McKinley developed in 1894 and 1895 , writing " I can not find anybody in Washington who wants him " . By March 1896 , Taft realized that McKinley would likely be nominated , and was lukewarm in his support . He landed solidly in McKinley 's camp after former Nebraska representative William Jennings Bryan in July stampeded the 1896 Democratic National Convention with his Cross of Gold speech . Bryan , both in that address and in his campaign , strongly advocated free silver , a policy that Taft saw as economic radicalism . Taft feared that people would hoard gold in anticipation of a Bryan victory , but he could do nothing but worry . McKinley was elected ; when a place on the Supreme Court opened in 1898 , the only one under McKinley , the president named Joseph McKenna
1896 Democratic National Convention
1896 Democratic National Convention
William Howard Taft