The Presidency of William Howard Taft began on March 4, 1909, when William Howard Taft was inaugurated as President of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1913. Taft, a Republican from Ohio, was the 27th United States president. Taft made six appointments to the United States Supreme Court, more than all but two other presidents. In foreign affairs, Taft focused on East Asia and repeatedly intervened to prop up or remove Latin American governments. Nellie Taft said regarding the campaign, 'There was nothing to criticize, except his not knowing or caring about the way the game of politics is played.' Despite his disappointment with the high tariff rates contained in the final bill, Taft signed the Payne-Aldrich tariff into law.