Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Interesting Smithsonian article on how FDR tried to dominate the Supreme Court

MoonDog · 05-07-2005, 10:24 PM

I read this a few days ago, but never got around to posting about it.

It seems that FDR's New Deal strategies were being overturned by a conservative Supreme Court, so he cooked up a way to counteract the conservative members of that court - simply ask Congress to allow him to appoint a new judge for every member over the age of 70. Since his opponents on the court were all 70+, it was a neat step.

This effort to pack the Supreme Court caused quite a ruckus, and probably would have passed, thanks to the political capital that FDR wielded at that time in his Presidency. Fortunately,one member changed his vote on some key cases, and FDR's bill attempting to alter the Court was allowed to fade away.

Anyhow, I found this to be quite interesting, especially with the judge appointing controversy that we are seeing today. Take a gander at the full article at the link below, and comment if you want.

http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smi...premecourt.pdf

05-07-2005, 10:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
MoonDog Psycho Location: Buffalo, New York	Interesting Smithsonian article on how FDR tried to dominate the Supreme Court I read this a few days ago, but never got around to posting about it. It seems that FDR's New Deal strategies were being overturned by a conservative Supreme Court, so he cooked up a way to counteract the conservative members of that court - simply ask Congress to allow him to appoint a new judge for every member over the age of 70. Since his opponents on the court were all 70+, it was a neat step. This effort to pack the Supreme Court caused quite a ruckus, and probably would have passed, thanks to the political capital that FDR wielded at that time in his Presidency. Fortunately,one member changed his vote on some key cases, and FDR's bill attempting to alter the Court was allowed to fade away. Anyhow, I found this to be quite interesting, especially with the judge appointing controversy that we are seeing today. Take a gander at the full article at the link below, and comment if you want. http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smi...premecourt.pdf