The photo was taken during Taft's review of the Atlantic Fleet in New York Harbor in November 1911. At far right is Secretary of the Navy George Meyer. To his right is Major Archibald Butt. A magnified view of Taft's head is also shown.

Another photo taken that day shows Taft in a similar state.

(Note: The lesion on Taft's temple may be a photographic artifact, or it may be the "deep depression" that he carried in his skull after a boyhood wagon accident.)