TLS signed “Wm. H. Taft,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 6 x 7.75, Supreme Court of the United States letterhead, April 29, 1927. As chief justice, Taft writes to Myron T. Herrick, ambassador to France, concerning a visit by Congressman Hatton W. Sumners of Texas. In part: “Mr. Sumners is the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee of the House, and though a Democrat and though from Texas is one of the best men in the House, and if we ever have the burden of a Democratic Congress again, it will be relived somewhat by the fact that Mr. Sumners with be the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives. He is really one of the best men we have in Congress and a very warm friend of mine, as I am of his. He is broad-minded and very anxious to promote the public. He is taking a trip to Europe this summer, and I thought he might like to see you in Paris. Any courtesy that you can show him will be a personal favor to me.” In fine condition, with a mild shade of uniform toning. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
Though from different political parties, Taft’s respect for Sumners, who served in Congress for 34 years, is abundantly clear in this correspondence. “Though a Democrat and though from Texas,” Taft praises him as “one of the best men in the House...and a very warm friend of mine.” As such, he requests Herrick show him any special courtesy “as a personal favor.” Historians share Taft’s view of Sumners’ service to the nation. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee from 1931 to 1947, Sumners gained a reputation as one of the best Constitutional attorneys in Congress and by 1937—after Taft had left the court and passed away—was considered the front-runner for a Supreme Court vacancy. During the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Taft’s ‘fear’ of “the burden of a Democratic Congress” came to fruition. Sumners, as head of judiciary committee, would lose the support of his fellow Democrat and other party leaders after FDR proposed a plan to add six more justices to the high court, and force the retirement of those over 70.5 years of age—essentially ‘stacking’ the Supreme Court with fellow New Dealers and assure that any New Deal law, if challenged, would not be overturned. As noted by Taft in this letter, Sumners—a man he saw as being “broad-minded and very anxious to promote the public,” immediately opposed FDR’s plan. Though his leadership efforts were eventually successful in reversing Roosevelt’s idea, the opposition damaged Sumners’ political career with the party. A great Taft letter referencing one of the 20th century’s greatest leaders in Congress. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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