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Democracy Under Fire

The American people are a practical lot. I think they are more entertained than influenced by the high blood pressure of politicians, and they do not take seriously either their campaign professions of perfection or their prophesies of disaster.

The Department of Justice and the Cities

I was very grateful to hear the suggestion that there is a place for ex Attorneys general to go. I do not gather the impression that I would be so welcome in the St. Louis from some of the editorials that I have read in the St. Louis papers. I am glad to be reassured.

Address before Federal-State Conference on Law Enforcement Problems

The country is looking to all of us as responsible public officials to handle to problems of federal and state law enforcement in connection with the national defense in an efficient and orderly manner. It looks to the state and federal governments to work together in cooperation, and while it is impossible to eliminate reasonable disagreements of matters or detail, the grave responsibility which we share makes it certain that we will at least approach our problems in a spirit of mutual confidence.

Government Counsel and Their Opportunity

Almost exactly six years ago I arrived in Washington to become a General Counsel for the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Promising myself and my clients that it was for a year only, a good deal bewildered at the size and complexity of the government machine, I joined the ranks of government counsel.

The Undeveloped Strength of American Democracy

In a world that is moving so fast, prophesy is dangerous, and it is too early to draw more than tentative and contingent inferences as to the future. But prudence requires us to consider the possibility that after this war our nation will find itself in a reordered and less friendly environment. Unless we are to adopt a policy of non-resistance and comfort ourselves with the theory that virtue is its own reward, we cannot ignore the possibility that some decisive test of military strength may be forced upon us.

Address at New York University

It would occasion my deep gratitude at any time to be chosen, with Senator Wagner, for an award from this class for meritorious service. But there are reasons why just at this time it is a cause of unusual satisfaction. A storm of violence and poison is sweeping over the world. The thoughts of men are turned to feats of strength and new achievements in destruction.

Mr. Justice Butler

Men eminent in the legal profession, former associates in the practice of the law, and public leaders have paid him eloquent and affectionate tribute. All of these tributes I offer for your records. I should not presume to add words of my own, except that the proceedings are lacking in one viewpoint which I should be qualified to supply.

Business and Government Have Worked Together

I once knew a smart lawyer who always took his well-to-do clients to court dressed up in their old clothes. He thought that got sympathy from the jury. I recognize the same tactics in some of the smart lawyer-candidates who are trying to dress up their political contributors in old clothes to get the sympathy of the voters this fall.

Essential Differences Between the Republican and Democratic Parties

This argument was presented on Thursday evening, April 11, 1940, and was one of the regular Town Hall programs. The moderator of the program was George B. Denny, Jr. Glenn Frank at this time was chairman of the Republican Program Committee and had just sponsored the composition and publication of an extensive Republican Campaign Handbook. The Honorable Robert H. Jackson, not long before appointed Attorney-General of the United States, was widely referred to as President Roosevelt's choice for his successor. As the third term idea gained momentum in April, 1940, Mr. Jackson was frequently mentioned as a possibility for the vice-presidency (even though from Roosevelt's state of New York).

A Square Deal for the Court

The Constitution is a short document; together with its amendments it is only about 10 pages long. This is much shorter than most of the important statues. It is also, I fear, shorter than is my written address tonight. Since the Constitution is so short, and since the founders of our nation realized they should not attempt to deal too specifically with the problems of the distant future, its commands are cast in very general language.