William Howard Taft likely apnea victim.

• Position: Medicine & Health - Brief Article

Nearly a century after Pres. William Howard Taft took office, citizens remain fascinated by the 300-plus-pound president who once got stuck in the White House bathtub. What the public does not know is that Taft's obesity contributed to a serious health disorder--obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)--that may have conflicted with his presidential duties, according to Pale Alto, Calif., physician John G. Sotos.

While sleep apnea was not a recognized medical condition during Taft's term early in the 20th century, Sotos claims that historical documents show the former president had risk factors and...