One June 20, 1910, at precisely 1:40 p.m., a small group of political dignitaries who had been summoned to the White House watched as President William Howard Taft took up a gold-banded quill, plucked from an American eagle captured near Taos, and signed a Congressional Enabling Act.

That measure allowed New Mexico and Arizona to write their own constitutions and form state governments as preconditions for winning admission to the Union on equal footing with the other 46 states.

When those requirements had been met after considerable delay, President Taft at another White House ceremony, Jan. 6, 1912, signed a final proclamation elevating New Mexico to full-fledged statehood. A month later, he granted Arizona the same prize.

Taft, an Ohio-born jurist, emerged as a strong advocate for New Mexican statehood after being elected president in a 1908 landslide. It was often said that the presidency outweighed him, as he tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds.

On Oct. 15, 1909, the president, while on a swing through the West by rail, made an Albuquerque stopover. In the evening, a banquet was given in his honor at the posh Alvorado Hotel.

Local politicians, enlisted earlier, gave brief speeches, politely pushing the statehood issue and praising Taft's past support.

Then A.B. Fall, political kingmaker and rancher from Otero County, stood up and in sharp terms denounced the president for failure to vigorously push New Mexico's campaign for statehood.

An angry Taft surged to his feet and hotly defended his efforts on behalf of the territory. The 65 Republicans and Democrats in the audience were shocked at Fall's words, fearing he had alienated the one man who was key to the success of their cause.

Fortunately, Taft cooled down and assured listeners that he remained a staunch supporter of admission for New Mexico. He made good on his promise 16 months later, upon signing New Mexico's statehood document with several prominent New Mexicans present.

"Well, it's all over. I'm glad to give you life. I hope you will be healthy," he declared on that occasion.

There was some urgency to his signing, because the previous fall he had lost his bid for a second term to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. Before his departure from Washington, Taft was eager to see New Mexico and Arizona add their stars to America's proud flag.

In the previous general election, Nov. 16, 1911, in which Taft had been defeated, Democrat William C. McDonald was elected the first governor the state of New Mexico, narrowly defeating Republican Holm O. Bursum of Socorro.

A New Yorker who had come to the territory in 1880 and settled at the mining boomtown of White Oaks in Lincoln County, McDonald later became manager of the Carrizozo Ranch and Cattle Co. and then entered politics.

According to all press reports, Gov. McDonald's inauguration proved to be a stunning spectacle. He drove up from Central New Mexico and was met some miles south of Santa Fe by an honorary escort.

The new state governor was inducted into office in front of the domed Capitol building at high noon, Jan. 15, 1912, just more than a week after Taft proclaimed statehood. Seven to eight thousand people looked on. "A more beautiful day was impossible," said one source.

Evening ceremonies began with brilliant illumination of the historic Plaza. Both visitors and townsfolk stood dazzled before a huge welcome arch and the Palace of the Governors was ablaze with electric lights. Names of early-day New Mexico heroes ornamented the columns supporting the palace portal.

Gov. McDonald is remembered now as an important transitional figure from one era to another. His administration, though, was rather colorless, as he himself was.

The new state constitution had set a four-year term for governor. At the time it was not known when the first election would be held.

Thus, the framers of the constitution had provided that the first governor should hold office until Jan. 1, 1917. Since the election occurred earlier than expected, McDonald ended up serving a five-year term, the only man ever to do so!

Historian Marc Simmons is author of numerous books on New Mexico and the Southwest. His column appears Saturdays.