November 2018 Auction Ends Thursday, November 8th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/8/2018
William Howard Taft typed letter signed, dated 20 February 1916, shortly after Louis Brandeis was nominated to the Supreme Court, and during Brandeis' confirmation hearing. Brandeis' nomination was unusual for several reasons; he was the first Jewish person to be nominated to the Supreme Court, and also, for the first time in history, the Senate held a public hearing for his nomination, questioning witnesses for and against him. Taft was opposed to Brandeis' nomination, and here even goes so far as to call him crooked in this letter, based on testimony given during the Senate hearing. He also calls out Brandeis' Jewish religion. On Taft's personal stationery, letter to Gus Karger reads in part,
''...No one has a stronger feeling of disgust toward the President than I have...The Brandeis evidence is revealing a professional crookedness - for I can call it no less a word than that - in Brandeis which will make it an indelible stain on Wilson's Administration, if he is confirmed and sent to the Bench. Nothing could be more damning than the effort of Sherman Whipple to explain Brandeis' action in the case with respect to which he was called as a witness. His Shoe Machinery business, his New York and New England business, and this case that Sherman Whipple described, would be enough to suspend him from the Bar before an impartial court; and yet he is to be promoted to the highest Bench. I think the Jews have a right to complain that the first man selected [in Taft's hand] from serving them for the Bench should be of such a character...[signed] Wm H Taft''.
Louis Brandeis would be confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 47 to 22, and go on to serve on the Supreme Court for over 20 years. In addition to content on Brandeis, Taft also writes of World War I, President Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt. Two page letter on two sheets measures 8'' x 10.5''. Karger's reply to Taft is also included. Some dampstaining to pages, overall in good condition with fascinating content.
William Taft Letter Signed During Louis Brandeis' Nomination to the Supreme Court -- ''...The Brandeis evidence is revealing a professional crookedness...the Jews have a right to complain...''
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