[Manuscript] Statement regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt's attempt to enlarge the Supreme Court.

Grey (Zane)

[Manuscript] Statement regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt's attempt to enlarge the Supreme Court.

Description: written in black ink on 'Long Key Fishing Camp' headed paper, a few deletions, corrections and insertions by the author, including two false starts at head, pp. [2], 4to, a few creases to corners and light handling marks, good condition

Publication Details: [1937]

Notes: Grey is here responding to a request from C.K. Gregg, of the Society for Preservation of American Ideals and Form of Government, soliciting the author's opinion on this matter - a photocopy of this letter and the George Ade article that accompanied it are included here. Grey writes: 'The constitution is, and has always been, in spite of changes in our ways of living [...], the bulwark of our national liberty; our defense against dictatorship and radicalism. With the fight being waged by labor at present, which to me is none less than a miniature scale of what is happening in Europe - of course...moreGrey is here responding to a request from C.K. Gregg, of the Society for Preservation of American Ideals and Form of Government, soliciting the author's opinion on this matter - a photocopy of this letter and the George Ade article that accompanied it are included here. Grey writes: 'The constitution is, and has always been, in spite of changes in our ways of living [...], the bulwark of our national liberty; our defense against dictatorship and radicalism. With the fight being waged by labor at present, which to me is none less than a miniature scale of what is happening in Europe - of course, minus a good deal of the bloodshed - the Supreme Court is the one check in the complete freedom of government that could well be filled with more radicalism or desire towards dictatorship than it is today. It is not only what President Roosevelt might do with more freedom, it is what future men might do under the stress of the stronger conflict of ideas [...]'. An impassioned response to an important question, otherwise unpublished - Roosevelt's initiative was well-opposed and ultimately unsuccessful at this time. HIDE

Bibliography: (Plus VAT in the EU)