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Presidential Ambitions Of U.S. Supreme Court Justices: A History And An Ethical Warning, William G. Ross
Presidential Ambitions Of U.S. Supreme Court Justices: A History And An Ethical Warning, William G. Ross
William G. Ross
A remarkably large number of U.S. Supreme Court justices have had presidential aspirations while serving on the Court. Several have conducted covert presidential campaigns, and a few nineteenth century justices even campaigned openly from the bench. In at least three quarters of the elections between 1832 and 1956, one or more justices attempted to obtain a presidential or vice presidential nomination or were prominently mentioned as possible candidates. During the past half century, no Supreme Court justice appears to have entertained serious presidential ambitions, probably because no justice who has been appointed during the past fifty years has held any …