The year 2005 was a personal, professional and political disaster for Taft. He may be forever remembered as standing before a judge with a horde of media around. As a man from one of Ohio’s most famous political families, he became the first-ever governor convicted of a crime while in office.
Taft said it was a somewhat humbling experience, and said he obviously made a very serious mistake.
His legal troubles began when he accepted multiple free golf outings and other gifts worth a total of $5,800 from Toledo coin dealer Tom Noe and others. He then failed to disclose them to the ethics commission.
Noe is now at the center of multiple controversies, involving state investments in coins and he is under federal indictment, accused of illegal fundraising for President George W. Bush.
Taft said he blames only himself for what happened. He said he made a bad mistake and it was not intentional. He also said it was inexcusable.
While critics called for Taft to resign, the governor now said he never seriously considered stepping down. However, his approval rating among voters has hit an all-time historic low for any Ohio governor. Time magazine ranked him among the worst five governors in the nation.
Taft still has another year in office, but his time in the spotlight is fading. The focus will soon begin to shift to a new round of leaders who all pledge to make reforms to clean up the statehouse.