15 th September

1867 William Howard Taft was born.

1890 Agatha Christie was born. (See November 25th entry.)

1917 Russia was proclaimed a republic by Alexander Kerensky. (See April 22nd and November 7th entries.)

Not too many people in U. S. history have been chosen to serve as President and as Chief Justice. William Howard Taft—who was born on this day in 1857, in Cincinnati—was President for four years and Chief Justice of the United States for nine years. He also headed a distinguished Ohio political family. Unlike many United States presidents, William Howard Taft has one unusual distinction. His words are rarely ever quotes. In fact, most of his printed quotes were judicial decisions.

One of the world’s greatest mystery writers was born on this day in 1890. Agatha Christie was educated at home by her mother and spent her childhood growing up in the

Derbyshire countryside. She began writing detective stories while working as a nurse during the First World War. She continued honing her craft after the war as her first— and short-lived—marriage disintegrated. In 1920, she introduced the world to the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Later, her loyal fans were treated to the exploits of Miss Marple. It’s certainly no mystery why her books sold over a hundred million copies in numerous languages. Yet in real life, the mystery of her short disappearance after the break up of her first marriage has never been solved.

Alexander Kerensky was an idealistic attorney in Czarist Russia who frequently defended revolutionary intellectuals accused of political offenses. He entered politics and championed concepts like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right of assembly, freedom to worship, universal suffrage, and equal rights for women. But unlike some of his clients and political peers, Kerensky supported Russian involvement in the First World War. In 1917, Kerensky urged the dissolution of the monarchy during the February Revolution. And on this day in that same year, Russia was proclaimed a republic by Alexander Kerensky after Czar Nicholas II abdicated his throne. Kerensky’s dream came true. But it was short-lived. He was ousted during the October Revolution and Vladimir Lenin took his place as the voice of the people.