Comments on: Commentary: Gerald Ford’s impact on the Court http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/ The Supreme Court of the United States blog Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:56:34 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Joe Paulson http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/comment-page-1/#comment-10825 Joe Paulson Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:59:07 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/#comment-10825 Yes, I have read various accounts of Levi's role. Michael Gerhardt in his book "The Federal Appointment Process" notes Ford gave Levi the job of finding someone with professional ability and a moderate judicial ideology while the White House counsel judged the political ramifications of the choice. I see Ford's moves respecting Douglas as consistent, a result of his own different roles at the time. Douglas not surprisingly had low opinions of the man, but all things considered, I doubt he can really expect a better replacement. Yes, I have read various accounts of Levi’s role. Michael Gerhardt in his book “The Federal Appointment Process” notes Ford gave Levi the job of finding someone with professional ability and a moderate judicial ideology while the White House counsel judged the political ramifications of the choice.

I see Ford’s moves respecting Douglas as consistent, a result of his own different roles at the time. Douglas not surprisingly had low opinions of the man, but all things considered, I doubt he can really expect a better replacement.

]]> By: Michael Martin http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/comment-page-1/#comment-10824 Michael Martin Thu, 28 Dec 2006 16:12:10 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/#comment-10824 How soon we forget indeed. It's Edward Levi, not Edward Levy. But thank you for the reminder. How soon we forget indeed. It’s Edward Levi, not Edward Levy. But thank you for the reminder.

]]> By: Dennis Bedard http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/comment-page-1/#comment-10823 Dennis Bedard Thu, 28 Dec 2006 02:14:28 +0000 http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/uncategorized/commentary-gerald-fords-impact-on-the-court/#comment-10823 How soon we forget. One of Ford's forgotten legacies was the appointment of Edward Levy as attorney general. After years of being a political watchdog for JFK and then Nixon, DOJ needed exactly what Levy ordered: professionalism and nonpartisanship. I have read quite a bit about Levy and I am sure he never would have audited the tax returns of businessmen who opposed his president or quashed indictments of Teamster officials who were vital to his president's re-election. I am not certain but I believe it was Levy who engineered the appointment of Stevens to the high court. It is disappointing that Levy's name is not mentioned when discussing Ford and the court or legal matters in general. How soon we forget. One of Ford’s forgotten legacies was the appointment of Edward Levy as attorney general. After years of being a political watchdog for JFK and then Nixon, DOJ needed exactly what Levy ordered: professionalism and nonpartisanship. I have read quite a bit about Levy and I am sure he never would have audited the tax returns of businessmen who opposed his president or quashed indictments of Teamster officials who were vital to his president’s re-election. I am not certain but I believe it was Levy who engineered the appointment of Stevens to the high court. It is disappointing that Levy’s name is not mentioned when discussing Ford and the court or legal matters in general.

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