* biography: Charles Evans Hughes








Charles Evans Hughes (United States, 1862-1941)


Figure 1.--Here we see Secretary of State Charles Evan Hughes with a Boy Scout after helping negotiate a series of agrrements centerting on naval arms limitations (1921-22). The press caption read, "Sam Gilstrop, one of the vprodest small boys in the U.S., is congradulated by Secretary of State Hughes for his efficent and courteous service as a page at the Pan American Union during the arms conferenve." The photograph was dated February 1, 1922.

Charles Evans Hughes was an important figure in early-20th century America. Charles was born in Glens Falls, New York (1862). He was the son of an English immigrant and Baptist preacher. His parents educated him at home until he entered college. His career was primarily associated with the U.S. judicial system. He is a rare Supreme Court justice who left the Court and then retuned, in his case as the Chief Justice. He served on the Court (1910-16), leaving it to run for president after being nominated by the Repblicans. He lost in a very close electiom to President Wilson (November 1916). Wilson's campaign slogan that seens to have carried the day was that 'He kept us out of war." Only a few months later, however, the United States entered the War (April 1917). Hughes then served as Secretary of State in the Hardng and Cooldidge Administarions. Hughes played a major role in the Washington Naval Arms Limitations Conference, leading to substantail cuts in Naval arms spending. He was then appointed by President Cooldidge to be the 11th chief justice of the United States (1930–41). It was Hughes who as Chief Justic led the Court during the Depression era when major issues arose ocer the scope and role of Government as a result of President Roosevelt's New Deal legislation. This led to the President's effort after his massive electoral victory (1936) to pack the Court (1937). The issues were finally determined when the President's Court appointments changed the composition of the Court. Hughes died (1941).

Childhood

Charles was born in Glens Falls, New York (1862). He was the soin of an English immirant and Baptist preacher.

Education

His parents educated him at home until he entered college. He attended Madison University which is now Colgate University (1876-78). He then transferred to Brown University for some reason where he graduated (1881). He received a law degree with honors from Columbia University Law School (1884).

Law Practice

Hughes after passing the bar joined Chamberlain, Carter, and Hornblower, an imprtant New York City law firm. Reportung srress, he requesyed and receiveda a sabbatical (1890s). He served as visiting professor at Cornell University Law School which he found less streesful. Financial issues forced him to return to practicing kaw.

Governor of New York (1906-10)

Hughes first national attention (1905). He was serving as counsel to the New York state legislative committees investigating abuses in the gas and electric power industries and the life insurance industry. He was reluctant to enter political life. President Theodire Roosevelt mnaged to convince him to run for governor of New York (1906). He won a close election, feating the more attention grabbing newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. he was the only Republican to win statewide office in New York that year. Hughes was a moderate progressive, supporting a range of reform measures. He was skeptical about many of the more pooulist progressive iniatives. He was a string of merit over political partinship which cost him political allies. He also refised to support polutically popular measures such equal pay for women. As a result he almost did not win rrelection (1908). only narrowly won reelection in 1908 and he almost certainly would nit have won a third term.

Associate Justice (1910-16)

President Taft appointed Hughes to the Supre Court (1910). It was afortunate move for Hughes. His inclinations was more oriented towrd the judical than the political world. Hughes's service on the Supreme Court was not particularly notable with a moderate voting record. he supported Federal government responsibility to regulate commerce and favored the 1st and 14th Amendment rights that arose. There were no major controversial Supreme Court issues. And Hughes refused to get involved for or against President Roosevelts Bull Moose revolt (1912). As a result, Hughes emerged as a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination (1916). After the Republicans at their Convention nominated Hughes. He is a rare Supreme Court justice who left the Court and then retuned, in his case as the Chief Justice. He served on the Court (1910-16)

Presidential Candidate (1916)

After the excitement of the President Roosevelt 1912 Bull Moose campaig, the 1916 presidential election was a fairly tame affair. Hughes resigned from the Supreme Court to run for president after being nominated by the Republicans. They were after a 'safe' candidate that the Party could unite behind. Roosevelt did not ebnter the race. Hughes also won the endorsement of the Progressive former Bull Moose Party when Roosevelt turned them down. He lost in a very close electiom to President Wilson--277 electoral votes to 254 (November 1916). Wilson's campaign slogan that seens to have carried the day was that 'He kept us out of war." Only a few months later, however, the United States entered the War (April 1917). Huhes returned to the practice of law.

Secretary of State (1921-25)

President Harding selected Hughes as Secretary of State 1921). He stayed on after harding's death and served in the Cooldidge Administarions. Hecwas an active secretary of state. Hughes had to negotaite a separate peace treaty with Germany after the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles negotiated by the Allies with President Wilson. He unsucessfully supported attempts for the he United States to join the League of Nations. His major accomplishment was to served as chairman of the Washington Conference (1921–22) on naval arms limitations, suceeding in a ground breaking treaty which the Senate ratified. The result was substantial cuts in navala arms spending. He refusaed to consider recognition of the Soviet Uniin until it recognized property rights. This was not just support of capitalis, but an understanding that totalitarian duictatorshio can not exist when private property rights are guaranteed. Hughes resigned as secretary of state and resomed the private paractice of law (1925).

Chief Justice (1930-41)

He was appointed by President Hoovere to be the 11th chief justice of the United States (1930-41). It was a closely followed appointment given the onset of the Depression. It was widely believed at the time and by far to many peoole tofay that the Depression was the result of inethical corpoorate behavior, And Hugh;es law priactice with corporate clinets cause some opposu=ition. The confirmation vote was 52-26. Thus it was Hughes who as Chief Justic led the Court during the Depression era when major issues arose ocer the scope and role of Government. President Roosevelt's New Deal legislation resulted in many court challenges. Major elements of the New Deal such as Natiional Recovery Act werev struck down by the Cort. This led to the President's effort after his massive electoral victory (1936) to pack the Court (1937). Hughes led the opposution to the Cort Packing effort. He also helped hain Court approval for some New Dealm initaives. The issues were finally determined when the President's Court appointments changed the composition of the Court. Hughes resigned from the cport at age 79 and died soon after (1941).







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Created: 10:36 PM 8/16/2020
Last edited: 10:36 PM 8/16/2020