November 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, November 8th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/8/2018
William H. Taft letter signed as President, with his opinion on appointing a Jewish individual to the Supreme Court. Upon White House letterhead dated 8 April 1910, Taft writes to Judge Samuel Koenig regarding the possible appointment of Louis Marshall, whom many lobbied to be nominated by Taft, the President with six Supreme Court nominations, the most apart from George Washington and FDR. Marshall was passed over all six times, and while Taft demurs as to race being a deciding factor, none of his six appointments were in fact Jewish.
Letter reads in part, ''...I have put Mr. Louis Marshall, of New York, among the eligibles for consideration for appointment to the Supreme Bench. As I have said to Judge Sulzberger, who came to see me about him; I can not appoint anybody because he is a Jew; and I certainly shall not decline to appoint anybody because he is a Jew. It would give me gratification should I find a gentleman competent for the place in every respect if he were a Jew, because by his appointment it would be made emphatically to appear that no man is denied the highest places in this Republic of ours because of his race...[signed] Wm H Taft''.
Despite Taft's protestations, he vociferously critiqued the appointment of Justice Louis Brandeis (the first Jewish member of the Supreme Court) by President Wilson six years later; in a letter written at that time, Taft called Brandeis a ''power for evil'' and a ''Jew of Jews''. White House letter on card-style stationery measures 7'' x 8.75''. Circular ''received'' stamp at upper right. Folds and light toning, overall very good condition.
William Taft Letter Signed as President, About the Supreme Court -- ''...I can not appoint anybody because he is a Jew; and I certainly shall not decline to appoint anybody because he is a Jew...''
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