Which of the following presidents failed in his effort to "reform" the Supreme Court?

Question

A. Warren G. Harding
B.Calvin Coolidge
C.Franklin D. Roosevelt
D.Herbert Hoover

Answer 1

E. None of the above.

Roosevelt had a "Court-packing plan." He asked Congress to temporarily expand the size of the Court from 9 to 15 justices so that he could appoint 6 new justices without waiting for any of the sitting justices to retire. Congress famously rejected that proposal. Nonetheless, 7 justices DID retire over the course of the next 4 years. Roosevelt DID appoint 7 new justices and he did so in only 4 years. Roosevelt wanted for the Sup. Ct. to stop "striking down" the New Deal laws. The Court DID stop striking down Roosevelt's favorite legislation. He got what he wanted.

As for A, B, and D, President Harding got what he wanted from his 4 appointees to the Court, so he didn't "fail." On the other hand, neither Coolidge nor Hoover had any particular plan on changing the Court.

Answer 2

C.
Wanted to enlarge it so he could appoint sympathetic justices.