Letter from John Marshall Harlan to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Brewer, David J. (David Josiah), 1837-1910, Field, Stephen J. (Stephen Johnson), 1816-1899, Harlan, James Shanklin, 1861-1927, Judges--Family relationships, Judicial ethics, United States. Interstate Commerce Commission, United States. Supreme Court
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Supreme Court Justice Harlan is surprised that President Roosevelt has been having trouble appointing his son, James Shanklin Harlan, to the Interstate Commerce Commission because of his familial connection. Such objections if followed, Harlan points out, would preclude any family member of a Justice from being appointed to any sort of federal or state judgeship. Harlan feels that Supreme Court Justices recognize the weight of their office and would be able to impartially judge the actions of family members, and moreover act as one of a group, which would not allow them to act unilaterally in any case.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-07-05
Creator(s)
Harlan, John Marshall, 1833-1911
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
10
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from John Marshall Harlan to Theodore Roosevelt. [July 5, 1906]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53403. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Harlan, John Marshall, 1833-1911. Letter from John Marshall Harlan to Theodore Roosevelt. [5 Jul. 1906]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53403.
APA:
Harlan, John Marshall, 1833-1911., [1906, July 5]. Letter from John Marshall Harlan to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o53403.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
