FDR & The Court Packing Controversy | Supreme Court Historical Society

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0. Intro

The Supreme Court Historical Society

PRESENT

FDR & The Courtpacking Controversy

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Background1
The New Deal2
Judicial Opposition3
The Proposal4
Court Reactions5
FDR Perseveres6
The Senate Judiciary Committee Reacts7
A Heated Debate8
The End of the Fight9
Burial10

1. Background

1. Background

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Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes swearing in FDR in 1933

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unemployment-office

2. The New Deal

2. The New Deal

The National Recovery Act protected worker's rights

The Agricultural Adjustment Act reduced production of staple crops, thus raising farm prices

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The Civilian Conservation Corps provided jobs for unemployed youth

Workers filing unemployment claims following passage of the Social Security Act in 1935

3. Judicial Opposition

3. Judicial Opposition

In 1936 the Court struck down the Agricultural Adjustment Act

James C. McReynolds

Willis Van Devanter

Pierce Butler

George Sutherland

Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts

Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes

The average age of the justices was 71, at the time the most elderly Supreme Court in history

4. The Proposal

4. The Proposal

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Number of Seats on the Supreme Court Authorized by Congress

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The Old Supreme Court Chamber

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Map of Judicial Circuits, 1807-1837

Map of Judicial Circuits, 1807-1837

Map of Judicial Circuits, 1807-1837

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5. Court Reactions

5. Court Reactions

Louis D. Brandeis

Benjamin N. Cardozo

Harlan Fiske Stone

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In a case brought by hotel chambermaid Elsie Parrish, the Court reversed itself and upheld a minimum wage law

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In 1937 the Court upheld the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 in a case brought by steelworkers who had been fired by their company when they moved to unionize

6. FDR Perseveres

6. FDR Perseveres

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Justice Van Devanter retired on May 18, 1937

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7. The Senate Judiciary Committee Reacts

7. The Senate Judiciary Committee Reacts

Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst (D-AZ), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee

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Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)

Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)

Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)

Senator Wheeler and aide

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8. A Heated Debate

8. A Heated Debate

Joseph T. Robinson (D-AR)

FDR and Robinson

Burton K. Wheeler (D-MT)

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Senator Royal Copeland (D-NY), the only physician in the Senate, warned of the danger of summer heat and is shown here inspecting the ventilating fan

9. The End of the Fight

9. The End of the Fight

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Funeral Service for Joseph T. Robinson on July 16, 1937, in the Senate Chamber

10. Burial

10. Burial

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Senator Hiram Johnson (R-CA)

Credits

Credits

Project Historian & Executive Producer: Clare Cushman

Written and Produced by INHERITAGE

Associate Producer: Sarah Eldridge

Narration: Michael Kramer

Graphics: Cordelia Prouvost

Funded with a generous grant from the Polsky Foundation

Image Credits:

Library of Congress

FDR Library

Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

The New York Times

The Washington Post

Architect of the Capitol

National Archives and Records Administration

Getty Images and Videos

U.S. Senate

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