William Howard Taft, a member of the Republican Party, took office as the 27th President of the United States on March 4, 1909 at age 51. Taft served in office for 4 years and left when he lost reelection. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and received an education from Yale University.
In Eastern Massachusetts, following World War II, the economy was transformed from one based on heavy industry into a service-based economy. Government contracts, private investment, and research facilities led to a new and improved industrial climate, with reduced unemployment and increased per capita income.
The Massachusetts Turnpike (commonly shortened to the Mass Pike or the Pike) is the easternmost 138-mile (222 km) stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the eastern border of Massachusetts in Boston and connects with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway. The Turnpike traverses the state and serves the major cities of Worcester and Springfield.