Marshall Faced 'Em Down Clarence Thomas Won't Be the First Black Nominee to the Supreme Court to Undergo Tough Questioning in Confirmation Hearings

Stanley I. Kutler. Stanley I. Kutler is professor of history and law ., The Christian Science Monitor

STROM THURMOND of South Carolina, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, might reflect with irony on his role as one of Clarence Thomas's chief defenders. Thurmond will stand up for the black Supreme Court nominee in the confirmation hearings that begin tomorrow.

Nearly a quarter century ago, Thurmond and other Southern senators bitterly opposed Thurgood Marshall, the first black nominated to the Supreme Court. Their questions regarding Marshall's judicial philosophy barely concealed their determination to discredit him.

Nonetheless, Marshall testified for less than seven hours in July 1967. Most senators on the committee made brief appearances; …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Marshall Faced 'Em Down Clarence Thomas Won't Be the First Black Nominee to the Supreme Court to Undergo Tough Questioning in Confirmation Hearings. Contributors: Stanley I. Kutler. Stanley I. Kutler is professor of history and law . - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: September 9, 1991. Page number: 18. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.