The term 'CHIEF JUSTICE BEFORE HUGHES' is referring to William Howard Taft, who served as the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913 and was the 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1921 to 1930. He was the only person to have held both offices. Taft was nominated by President Warren G. Harding and confirmed by the Senate in 1921. He served until his retirement in 1930, when he was succeeded by Charles Evans Hughes.