Fortieth Anniversary of Justice Powell Joining the Supreme Court
Lewis F. Powell, Jr. was nominated by President Richard M. Nixon to serve as Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on October 21, 1971. He was confirmed by the Senate (89-1 vote) on December 7. On January 3, 1972, he took the constitutional oath of office becoming a government employee with a salary of $60,000. He was formally sworn in on January 7.
Powell's name had been bandied about as a possible Court nominee for some years prior to his nomination. Below is an example of his typical response of discouragement.
When Attorney General John Mitchell told Powell that the President wanted to nominate him to the Court, he still had reservations. This is evidenced in both his later memorandum to his children about the nomination, and in his contemporaneous notes. Pages from both are below.
Below, a page from the press release version of President Nixon's address to the nation.
Following his nomination, Powell received approximately 4,000 messages of congratulations. The telegram below, from New Orleans attorney and father of the contemporary radio talk show host, is typical.
Powell's extensive preparation for the Senate confirmation hearings included the creation of reference binders, like the one pictured below.
Below are photos from Powell's Senate Confirmation hearings, November 1971.
Above, Powell with Virginia Governor Holton and Virginia Senator Spong.
Below, Powell shakes hands with Senator Charles Mathias. Photo captioning in Powell's own hand follows.
Below, newly sworn in Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Rehnquist and Powell, January 7, 1972.
Above, snapshots from reception for Justices, thought to be from January 7, 1972.
Above, apparently the first formal portrait of Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
Above, the Supreme Court as constituted in 1972.