1907-
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Nixon's Judicial Counterrevolution.

President Richard Nixon wanted to change the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court when he appointed Warren Burger as chief justice in 1969. For the previous sixteen years the chief justice had been Earl Warren. Warren presided over an era of unprecedented judicial activity. The Court asserted constitutional limits on national and state governments in the areas of racial segregation, criminal justice, and legislative representation. In 1968 fearing that Richard Nixon — whom Warren detested — would be elected president, Warren resigned in 1968 so that Lyndon Johnson could select his replacement. However, when Johnson's choice, Abe Fortas, withdrew from the nomination because of questionable financial dealings, Nixon got his chance.

Nixon Chooses Burger.

Nixon chose little-known federal appeals court judge Warren Burger. Burger's judicial record reflected Nixon's concerns in two important ways. First, Burger argued for "strict...