Remembering History: Helen “Nellie” Taft - William Howard Taft’s wife was the FIRST first lady to own and drive a car, to ride in her husband’s inaugural parade, to support women's suffrage, to publish her memoirs, to smoke cigarettes, and successfully lobby for safety standards in federal workplaces. She was a better woman...than he was a president!

Helen “Nellie” Taft - William Howard Taft’s wife was the FIRST first lady to own and drive a car, to ride in her husband’s inaugural parade, to support women's suffrage, to publish her memoirs, to smoke cigarettes, and successfully lobby for safety standards in federal workplaces. She was a better woman...than he was a president!

Helen “Nellie” Taft - William Howard Taft’s wife was the FIRST first lady to own and drive a car, to ride in her husband’s inaugural parade, to support women's suffrage, to publish her memoirs, to smoke cigarettes, and successfully lobby for safety standards in federal workplaces. She was a better woman...than he was a president!