James C. McReynolds #66 (1862-1946)
Autographs an undated letter on letterhead from the Hotel Hermitage of Nashville, Tennessee. There are two photographs attached hereto both of which appear to be taken in court chambers. There is also an antique court photo which displays a youthful McReynolds who before he was nominated to the court was an Attorney General.
PACKING THE COURT
F.D.R. Packing Panel
These nine Justices were put in the position of deciding whether Roosevelts “New Deal” was to die on the vine of suggestion or whether it passed constitutional muster. The Court was so divided they morphed into two camps. One known as “the 3 musketeers” (Stone, Brandeis and Cardozo) the other group were dubbed “the four horsemen” (Justices Butler, McReynolds, Sutherland, and Van Devanter).
Mahlon Pitney #65 (1858-1924) James Clark McReynolds #66 (1862-1946)
Justice Mahlon Pitney #65 (1858-1924) Justice Pitney was nominated to the court by President Taft in 1912. His appointment was contested but he was accepted by the senate by a 50-26 vote.
Justice James Clark McReynolds #66 (1862-1946) was nominated to the Court by President Wilson and he was installed as Justice in 1914 and remained until 1941. Before his appointment this man from Kentucky studied law at Virginia and was Secretary to Justice Howell Jackson for 2 years.