LBJ, Nixon, and the Making of the Contemporary Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land, responsible for interpreting the Constitution and overseeing the federal judiciary. Its decisions have a profound impact on American society, shaping everything from civil rights to economic policy. In the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s, two presidents—Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon—left an enduring mark on the Court, appointing justices who would shape its direction for years to come.

LBJ and the Warren Court Legacy

When Lyndon B. Johnson became president in 1963 following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, he inherited a Supreme Court that was already in the midst of a period of dramatic change. Under the leadership of Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Court had issued a series of landmark decisions that expanded civil rights, protected individual liberties, and curtailed the power of state governments.

The Long Reach of the Sixties: LBJ, Nixon, and the Making of the Contemporary Supreme Court

by Donald W. Carson

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	23307 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	486 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Johnson was a strong supporter of the Warren Court's liberal agenda, and he appointed two justices who would continue its legacy. In 1965, he nominated Abe Fortas to the Court. Fortas had been a close advisor to Johnson and shared his progressive views on social justice. In 1967, Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Marshall had a long history of fighting for civil rights, and his appointment was a major victory for the civil rights movement.

Under Johnson's leadership, the Court continued to issue landmark decisions that expanded individual rights. In 1966, the Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects must be informed of their rights before being questioned by police. In 1967, the Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional. These decisions helped to shape the modern understanding of individual rights and freedoms.

Nixon and the Conservative Resurgence

When Richard M. Nixon became president in 1969, he was determined to appoint justices who would overturn the liberal legacy of the Warren Court. Nixon believed that the Court had gone too far in expanding individual rights and limiting the power of government.

Nixon's first Supreme Court appointment was Warren Burger as Chief Justice in 1969. Burger was a conservative judge who had served on the Warren Court but had become increasingly critical of its liberal decisions. Nixon's second appointment was Harry Blackmun in 1970. Blackmun was a more moderate conservative, but he would often side with the Court's more conservative members.

Under Nixon's leadership, the Court began to move in a more conservative direction. In 1973, the Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that women have a constitutional right to an abortion. However, the Court also began to uphold restrictions on abortion, and in 1976, it ruled in Buckley v. Valeo that corporations have a First Amendment right to spend money on political campaigns. These decisions helped to lay the groundwork for the conservative Court that would emerge in the decades that followed.

The Lasting Legacy of LBJ and Nixon

Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon both left a lasting legacy on the Supreme Court. Johnson's appointments helped to cement the Warren Court's liberal legacy, expanding individual rights and protecting civil liberties. Nixon's appointments began a conservative resurgence on the Court that would continue for decades to come.

The Supreme Court that we have today is the product of the decisions made by Johnson and Nixon during their presidencies. Their appointments shaped the Court's direction and continue to influence its decisions to this day.

The Supreme Court is a crucial institution in American democracy, and its decisions have a profound impact on the lives of all Americans. The appointments made by Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon during the turbulent 1960s and 1970s helped to shape the Court into the institution that it is today. Their legacy will continue to be felt for years to come.

The Long Reach of the Sixties: LBJ, Nixon, and the Making of the Contemporary Supreme Court

by Donald W. Carson

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	23307 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	486 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE