U.S. Supreme Court,
Judges and Judiciary
Aug. 7, 2017
Justice Hugo Black: the closet Klansman
What FDR didn’t know is that he had appointed a former Klansman who owed his political career to the power of the invisible empire. Rumors flew, but Black lied and denied them all. It wasn’t until after he was confirmed that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published a copy of Black’s letter of resignation from the Klan. Oops.
James Attridge
Law Ofc of James Attridge
270 Divisadero St #3
San Francisco , CA 94117
Phone: (415) 552-3088
Email: jattridge@attridgelaw.com
U Denver School of Law
James is an attorney and mediator in San Francisco. He is writing a book about presidential legal careers.
When Franklin Roosevelt attempted to “pack” the Supreme Court in 1937 by adding up to six new justices, he sweetened the deal for reluctant senators by announcing the first new vacancy would be filled by Sen. Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas. Robinson was folksy and popular, and had been Alfred E. Smith’s running mate on the Democratic ticket in 1928. A southerner and a “dry” on the issue of prohibition, he balanced the ballot nicely. It also helped that he had delivere...
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