The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, sought to protect the rights of the newly freed slaves; but its first important test - centered on a vitriolic dispute among the white butchers of mid-Reconstruction New Orleans - did not arise until five years later. This is a guide to one of the US Supreme Court's most famous cases.
Jonathan Lurie provides a thorough analysis of the Supreme Court tenure of the only individual to serve as both president and chief justice. Taft joined the Court during the Jazz Age and Prohibition, a time marked by disillusionment and a retreat from the idealism of Woodrow Wilson's presidency. Lurie explores how the conservative trends of this era influenced key decisions made by Taft's court. While Taft is often viewed as an undistinguished president, his role as chief justice was far more impactful. Lurie illustrates how Taft's leadership and productive relationships with Congress helped shape the modern Supreme Court. He also incorporates unpublished letters Taft wrote to his children, which reveal a blend of family updates, insights on political issues, and commentary on fellow justices and cases. The study is organized around the eight full terms Taft served, examining significant decisions while minimizing legal jargon. The peak of Taft's chief justiceship occurred between 1921 and 1925, followed by a gradual decline in his health. By early 1930, he resigned, and his death soon followed. In the epilogue, Lurie discusses why Taft is still viewed as an outstanding chief justice, if not a great jurist, and underscores the significance of this distinction.