United States. Supreme Court

William R. Day agrees to succeed Justice Shiras on the United States Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-26

Governor Taft is working towards finding a land settlement with the Catholic Church in the Philippines, which has been complicated by the success of a schismatic independent Filipino church. Taft thanks President Roosevelt for allowing him to remain as Governor of the Philippines and apologizes for any embarrassment that was caused when the President had to find a new appointee for the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-27

Henry W. Taft writes about his brother, Governor of the Philippines William H. Taft. The Taft family is against William being appointed to the Supreme Court but worries that his work in the Philippines will keep him away for several more years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-16

Henry Billings Brown supports the rumored appointment of Governor Taft to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-06

Charles Emory Smith discusses a couple of options in the Venezuelan crisis. One suggests that President Roosevelt handles the arbitration. Smith is not altogether opposed to this idea, but prefers the suggestion that Roosevelt appoint a Supreme Court justice to handle the arbitration. This idea would not unduly encumber Roosevelt, but would have his authority behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-24

Chief Justice Fuller invites President Roosevelt to a dinner he is hosting on December 9 that will introduce newly appointed Justice Holmes to the other members of the Supreme Court. Several Cabinet members and senators will also be invited.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-24

Senator Lodge has just returned from Senator McMillan’s funeral. He tells President Roosevelt that it is too bad he will need to make appearances in Lynn and Boston but that he will be expected to speak for only a short amount of time. Lodge is pleased with the Forbes situation and also with the enthusiasm being shown the appointment of Judge Holmes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-17

Senator Lodge discusses not taking Mr. Bloomfield on his trip though he knows how much the settlement work Bloomfield does appeals to President Roosevelt. Lodge likes that Bloomfield’s people support Roosevelt for the 1904 election, as if he loses his Senate seat, he is counting on a Cabinet post. Lodge also reports to Roosevelt the advice he has given to Judge Holmes as he waits to be confirmed for the Supreme Court.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-20

Judge Lowell supports President Roosevelt’s Supreme Court appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-13

Senator Lodge addresses the letter that Senator Hoar sent to President Roosevelt, wherein he expressed his displeasure at Roosevelt’s choice of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., for the Supreme Court. Lodge dismisses Hoar’s complaints about a recess appointment, not being formally consulted on the matter, and about Holmes’s legal credentials. Attorney General Moody, Hosea Morrill Knowlton, and Richard Olney believe Holmes a good choice. Lodge supports Roosevelt’s choice and believes Hoar will calm down in time. Finally, Lodge says that Moody has informed him about the problems with Catholics, and he does not believe that the problem will become widespread among voters or the press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-01

Charles Emory Smith editorializes that the European powers’ insistence on the United States arbritrating their dispute with Venezuela might be solved by having a United States Supreme Court justice serve as arbitrator. This would have the advantages of having American issues arbitrated by Americans (rather than Europeans, were the Hague Tribunal to be involved); keeping the judicial and executive actions of the United States separate; and allowing for succession to another justice if the negotiations were protracted beyond the term or life of the one named (succession being a concern if President Roosevelt were named).

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-24

Henry Cabot Lodge is pleased that President Roosevelt has had a satisfactory meeting with Oliver Wendell Holmes. While Senator Hoar has expressed some reluctance about Holmes’ appointment to the Supreme Court, Lodge does not believe that Hoar will directly oppose him. Lodge hopes President Roosevelt will visit Nahant soon, perhaps in conjunction with a trip to Newport.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Senator Hoar does not understand exactly what advice President Roosevelt would like regarding the appointment of a new Supreme Court Justice.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-28

Senator Lodge writes President Roosevelt regarding Oliver Wendell Holmes’s possible appointment to the Supreme Court. Lodge will meet with Holmes to determine whether he fully supports the President’s position, before sending him to meet with Roosevelt. Lodge does not like the looks of things in Wisconsin, but believes things are going well elsewhere. He will go on the Committee of Resolutions to make sure “the Philippines, Cuba & you are properly sustained.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-19

Justice Horace Gray’s family wishes him to resign, and Senator Lodge believes that President Roosevelt will receive his resignation very soon. Lodge has spoken to Gray at length about his successor. If Roosevelt is unwilling to appoint William H. Moody, Lodge recommends Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Although Senator Hoar does not like him, Lodge has spoken to several lawyers, all of whom approve of the choice. State-wide, Holmes is well-regarded, and outside of the state his war record and position earn him favor with everyone except corporation lawyers. If Roosevelt does not choose Holmes, Lodge recommends Hosea Morrill Knowlton. Finally, Lodge reminds Roosevelt of his promise to visit on his way to Maine and New Hampshire. Lodge also tells Roosevelt about the recent birth of his grandson, who will also be named Henry Cabot Lodge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-07

Justice Gray is resigning from the Supreme Court for health reasons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-09

The unknown writer was pleased to hear of Col. Shepard’s appointment and congratulates President Roosevelt on the recent Supreme Court decision. The writer was distressed with several political disputes being played out in public.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-15

The article focuses on the decision of Supreme Court Judge Humphrey in relation to the pork packing industry. The New York World sides with President Roosevelt and feels laws are meant to be enforced. For those unhappy with Roosevelt’s dissent, the paper provides previous examples of United States presidents speaking out against prominent Supreme Court decisions such as the Dred Scott case or Marberry vs. Madison.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906

After reviewing the relevant Supreme Court decisions, Senator Platt doubts state corporations that engage in interstate commerce can be compelled to make reports to government officials. He believes the decisions allow for the regulation of commerce but not the regulation of corporations engaging in commerce.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-13

Judge Townsend encloses his commentary on a recent Supreme Court decision and a copy of a book that contains some of his sketches. He thanks President Roosevelt for stimulating his students’ minds and setting an excellent example.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-25