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1936 › Alf Landon (Republican) › Independence of the Supreme Court

An independent Supreme Court secure from executive or legislative invasion; maintain the balance between States and nation

pledge_forwarddirectional_stancecandidate_directevidence A Executive PowerFederal–State Relations⚡ Butler decision voids the AAA⚡ Schechter decision voids the NIRA similar solutions · similar reasoning

Solution

Resist all attempts to impair the Court's authority; keep within the Constitution; oppose the lodging of reserved powers in the Chief Executive.

Rationale

Nine acts declared unconstitutional; the President 'has publicly belittled the Supreme Court'; in nations where courts are undermined 'the rights and liberties are gone.'

Statements (4)

1936-06-11 · Republican National Convention, Cleveland (platform) · conventionparty_platform ✓ verified

To maintain the American system of Constitutional and local self government, and to resist all attempts to impair the authority of the Supreme Court of the United States, the final protector of the rights of our citizens against the arbitrary encroachments of the legislative and executive branches of government. There can be no individual liberty without an independent judiciary.

Source: Republican Party Platform of 1936 (1936-06-09)

1936-07-23 · Acceptance address, Topeka · conventioncandidate_direct ✓ verified

Shall we continue to delegate more and more power to the Chief Executive or do we desire to preserve the American form of government? Shall we continue to recognize that certain rights reside with the people, that certain powers are reserved for the States, and that certain functions are delegated to the Federal Government?

Source: Address Accepting the Republican Presidential Nomination in Topeka, Kansas (1936-07-23)

1936-10-13 · Detroit (Washington Times text) · generalcandidate_direct ✓ verified

When this final stage is reached --when the independence of the courts is destroyed--the rights and liberties are gone. The people are then at the mercy of the Execu tive.

Source: Liberty doomed under rule of Roosevelt, Landon says at Detroit; part text (Washington Times, Oct. 14, 1936, p. 4) (1936-10-14)

1936-10-29 · Madison Square Garden, New York (Evening Star text) · generalcandidate_direct ✓ verified

I believe in an independent Su preme Court and judiciary, secure from executive or legislative in vasion.

Source: Texts of Landon's New York Addresses (Evening Star, Oct. 30, 1936, p. 41) (1936-10-30)

Follow-through

not_applicable

The court bill of 1937 -- the tampering Landon warned of -- was defeated by the Senate; the Court's composition changed by retirement and appointment instead.

Other positions on this issue

Preserve the independence of the Supreme Court from party control — Herbert Hoover, 1932 directional_stance
A Workers' Rights Amendment; curb the Supreme Court's power over Congress; proportional representation; direct election of the President — Norman Thomas, 1932 specific_pledge

1936-landon-independent-supreme-court-constitutional-balance · created by claude-fable-5-1 · review: unreviewed