ASSOCIATE JUSTICE ABE FORTAS - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/23/1965 - HFSID 79262

ABE FORTAS
Letter send to FDR's former law partner re: Fortas' Supreme Court appointment
Typed Letter Signed: "Abe", 1p, 7¼x10½. Washington, D.C., 1965 August 23. To Basil O'Connor, New York. In full: "Thank you for your kind letter. I will do my best to justify your confidence." On July 14, 1965, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Adlai E. Stevenson collapsed and died of a heart attack on a London street. President Johnson convinced Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg to resign his lifetime appointment on July 25, 1965 and succeed Stevenson at the U.N. The vacancy was filled by lawyer ABE FORTAS (1910-1982), who was named as Associate Justice by President Johnson on August 11, 1965, 12 days before he wrote this letter. He was sworn in on October 4, 1965. In 1968, Chief Justice Earl Warren announced his intention to retire and President Johnson named Fortas to succeed him. As Associate Justice, Fortas generally had sided with the liberal court majority and his nomination was quickly assailed by various critics. When the nomination came to the Senate floor, a filibuster ensued. Shortly afterward, Fortas requested that his name be withdrawn, and the President complied. In 1969, Fortas' earlier financial involvement with a financier who was subsequently imprisoned for securities violations appeared likely to precipitate impeachment proceedings in Congress. On May 14, 1969, Fortas resigned, the first Justice to resign under threat of impeachment. He returned to his law practice. Lightly creased at bottom left blank corner. 2 file holes and light soiling at upper margin. Fine condition.