April 2016 Auction Ends Thursday, April 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2016
Exceptional William Howard Taft typed letter signed with his hand-edits and an additional autograph note signed, dated 31 January 1916, just two days after President Wilson nominated Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court. Addressed to his close friend and Washington journalist, Gus Karger (who also happened to be Jewish), Taft rips Wilson's ''Machiavellian'' and ''satanic skill'' in his selection of Brandeis, whom he calls ''cunning'', a ''hypocrite'' and a ''power for evil''. Brandeis was the first Jewish member of the Supreme Court, and Taft writes that the ''clannishness'' of Jews will prevent them from opposing Brandeis, in addition to much other content focused on Brandeis' religion. Taft famously opposed Brandeis' nomination to the Court, and this is one of the first letters by Taft where he discusses it; scholars have painted much of Brandeis' opposition to pure anti-Seminitism, which this letter elucidates. Taft gets right into the criticism, beginning the letter with, ''Our worthy President has developed more qualities of Machiavelli than even I, with a full appreciation of the admirable roundness of his character, had suspected. When I think of the devilish ingenuity manifested in the selection of Brandeis, I can not but admire his finesse. Of course, joking aside, it is one of the deepest wounds that I have had as an American and a lover of of the Constitution and a believer in progressive Conservatism, that such a man as Brandeis could be put in the Court, as I believe he is likely to be. He is a muckraker, an emotionalist for his own purposes, a socialist, prompted by jealousy, a hypocrite, a man who has certain high ideals in his imagination, but who is utterly unscrupulous [handwritten] in method of reaching them [], a man of infinite cunning, of marked ability in that direction that hardly rises above the dignity of cunning, of great tenacity of purpose, and, in my judgement, of [handwritten] much [] power for evil. He is only one of nine on the Court, but one on the Court is often an important consideration; and even if the [handwritten] rest of the [] Court is against him, he has the opportunity to attack their judgements and weaken their force by insidious demagoguery, and an appeal to the restless element that can do infinite harm. I sincerely hope that he can be defeated in the Senate, but I don't think so. Your description of the outburst against him when nominated, together with the dark brown taste in the mouth of protesting Senators the next morning, is an indication of the satanic skill in his selection. The intelligent Jews of this country are as much opposed to Brandeis' nomination as I am, but there are politics in the Jewish community, which with their clannishness embarrass leading and liberal and clear-sighted Jews. I venture to think that the leading Jews of New York, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati and the other cities, who are not bound up in emotional uplifting, and who do not now tend to socialism, are as much troubled over this appointment and as indignant as any of us can be, but Brandeis' foresight as to himself has strangled their expression lest they arouse bitter criticism against them [handwritten] selves [] by their own people. I talked with Isaac Ullman of New Haven, some little time ago about Brandeis. Isaac is on all the great Jewish committees, and he says there is a great feeling of antagonism toward Brandeis among the leading Jews, because his present superlative and extreme Judaism is a plant of very late growth. He says that he was no Jew until he was rejected by Wilson as Attorney-General, because the leading Jews of the country told Wilson that Brandeis was not a representative Jew. Since that time, Brandeis has adopted Zionism, favors the new Jerusalem, and has metaphorically been re-circumcised. He has gone all over the country making speeches, arousing the Jewish spirit, even wearing a hat in the Synagogue while making a speech in order to attract those bearded Rabbis whose invitation to the silver wedding in such numbers you promoted. If it were necessary, I am sure he would have grown a beard to convince them that he was a Jew of Jews. All this has made it politically difficult for not only the Jews but for anybody looking for office where there are Jews in the constituency, to hesitate about opposing Brandeis. The humor of the situation I can, not, even in the sorrow of the appointment, escape. When I consider the heartfelt indignation of [Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot] Lodge and [Senator John W.] Weeks at having to alienate the Jews of Massachusetts, with their candidacies just before them, I derive some wicked amusement. Weeks is the candidate of the Shoe Machinery Company, and of all organizations in the country, Brandeis is anathema to them. Lodge's friends in Boston, Major Higginson and others, regard Brandeis as the most exalted type of the dishonest trickster. Wilson has projected a fight, which with master art he will give the color of a contest, on one side of which will be ranged the opposition of corporate wealth and racial prejudice, and on the other side the downtrodden, the oppressed, the uplifters, the Labor unions, and all the elements which are supposed to have votes in the election. This will lead to the confirmation because of the white-livered Senators that we have. The Senate has been LaFolletized and Gomperized so that it has ceased to be the conservative body it was. But as so often happens in such a well devised Machiavellian scheme, the ultimate result is not going to be to Wilson's advantage, if we nominate any man whose conservatism appeals to the business men. His willingness to put a socialist on the Bench, and a muckraker, will drive from him the element that he might call upon because he has saved us from war, and that is strong among the business men. This appointment will be remembered long after the excitement of the confirmation has passed away, and it will return to plague him, as it ought to. It is too ingenious and too unscrupulous. Machiavelli's philosophy and policy were lacking in the same way. When you consider Brandeis' appointment, and think that men were pressing me for the place, es ist zum lachen [it is laughable]. You know me well enough to know that my judgement on this subject is not in the slightest degree colored by the fact that men had suggested me for the place. I never for one moment credited the possibility of Wilson's considering my name. The thoughts of the Judges of the Supreme Court, if they could be interpreted, would form interesting reading. I am coming down to Washington as you know, and I shall be glad to continue this subject when I meet you. It will probably have worked itself out then, thought there may be some people strong enough to continue the fight until then. Affectionately yours, [signed] Wm H Taft''. Taft continues the letter with an autograph note reading, ''Horace [Taft's brother] writes he is delighted with the appointment but he would have preferred [labor lawyer Frank Walsh]. I have written him that he evidently doesn't appreciate the perfectness of the nomination in all its phases. The only name in the same class is that of [Samuel] Gompers.'' Four pages on 4 sheets, each measuring 8'' x 10.5''. Discoloration and dampstaining to lower left of all pages, much of which can be framed out, uniform toning, and stain from paper clip on page 1, overall in fair to good condition.
William Taft Historically Important & Anti-Semitic Letter on Louis Brandeis, 2 Days After His Supreme Court Appointment -- ''Brandeis is...a hypocrite...unscrupulous...power for evil...Jew of Jews''
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