Vaulting Ambition

Michael Nelson is Fulmer Professor of Political Science at Rhodes College and a senior fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.

• Foreword by Barbara A. PerryPrefacePrologue: January 6, 19371. FDR, the Executive Branch, and the Supreme Court: Relief, Reform, and Resistance2. To Do or Not to Do?3. The 1936 Election: FDR Decides Not to Decide4. The President Proposes5. The Senate Disposes6. Did FDR Succeed?NotesBibliographic EssayIndex

"Franklin D. Roosevelt was justifiably frustrated by Supreme Court decisions that struck down New Deal programs, but his attempt to pack the court with sympathetic justices caused an uproar that seriously damaged his relations with Congress. Michael Nelson meticulously reconstructs Roosevelt’s fateful decision-making and the alternatives he rejected. The issue remains as timely as today’s headlines."—Donald A. Ritchie, author of Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932"How did the maestro of modern presidential politics, Franklin D. Roosevelt, blunder into an ill-fated scheme to pack the Supreme Court? In a fresh and insightful narrative, Michael Nelson takes us step-by-step through Roosevelt’s decision-making process and its spate of erroneous assumptions. Here is a tale of hubris—and its costs—on the grand scale."—Bruce Miroff, author of Presidents on Political Ground: Leaders in Action and What They Face"Vaulting Ambition: FDR’s Campaign to Pack the Supreme Court is distinguished political scientist Michael Nelson’s brief but detailed analysis of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision-making process. Nelson offers a fresh look behind the scenes at FDR’s plans and how they impacted institutions such as the executive branch, Congress, and the Democratic Party. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this formative era of US politics and its legacy."—Jeffrey Crouch, coauthor of Newt Gingrich: The Rise and Fall of a Party Entrepreneur"Any POTUS who wins smashing reelection, with strong majorities for his party in the House and Senate, should study Vaulting Ambition assiduously to prepare for the second term. Michael Nelson’s dissection of the attempt by FDR to pack the US Supreme Court will be especially compelling whenever the Justices face sustained attack. Vaulting Ambition mixes trenchant political analysis with rich historical detail, providing a delightful read and serious insight into presidential politics."—Taylor Reveley, president emeritus, William and Mary"This dramatic, provocative, and concise account of FDR’s court fight is perfect for classroom use. Highly recommended!"—Laura Kalman, author of FDR’s Gambit: The Court-Packing Fight and the Rise of Legal Liberalism