Levi Woodbury (1789-1851) autographs a letter sent by him on July 6, 1836, as secretary of the treasury nearly 160 years ago. Woodbury found himself on a track where many secretaries of the treasury found themselves nominated to the supreme court as Woodbury found himself nine years after he signed this missive. Woodbury didn’t have a law degree.

Nathan Clifford was nominated to the court in January 1858 and he was nominated by President James Buchanan.