Robert A. Taft (1889-1953) was Senator from Ohio, serving three terms. Considered by many political scientists and historians to be one of the great senators, he was called "Mr. Republican" in recognition of his embodiment of the values of his political party. He tried three times to capture the Republican nomination for the Presidency, but was beaten out twice by war hero General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Taft was the son of William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States and 10th Chief Justice. His son also represented in Ohio in the U.S. Senate and his grandson wa the Governor of Ohio.

It is perhaps ironic that his statue is very near the headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the most powerful of American unions, since he was one of the moving forces behind the Taft-Hartley Act, which authorizes the Federal Government to order striking union members back to work.