Despite significant promotion and the popularity of the president himself, the New Deal faced opposition. Perhaps none of Roosevelt’s decisions angered a broader swath of Americans more than his “court-packing plan” to increase the size of the Supreme Court. In the following letter, newspaper publisher Frank E. Gannett explained what he and many others viewed as the dangers of the plan.

President Roosevelt has cleverly camouflaged a most amazing and startling proposal for packing the Supreme Court. It is true that the lower courts are slow and overburdened, we probably do need more judges to expedite litigation but this condition should not be used as a subtle excuse for changing the complexion and undermining the independence of our highest court. Increasing the number of judges from nine to fifteen would not make this high tribunal act any more promptly than it does now, but it would give the President control of the Judiciary Department.

A year ago I predicted that this is exactly what would happen if Roosevelt was reelected. The Supreme Court having declared invalid many of the administration measures the President now resorts to a plan of creating a Supreme Court that will be entirely sympathetic to his ideas. Provision has been made for amending the Constitution. If it is necessary to change the Constitution it should be done in the regular way. The president is mistaken, if he thinks he can conceal his real purpose of packing, influencing and controlling the Supreme Court by confusing that objective with a long dissertation on the slow action of our various courts.

The Supreme Court has been the anchor that has held America safe through many storms. Its absolute independence and integrity must never be in doubt.

Our Government is composed of three departments, Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. These are the foundations of our Democracy. As a result of the election and the transfer of powers by so-called emergency measures, the Executive now dominates the Legislative Department. The President now proposes also to dominate the Judiciary. Do we want to give to this one man or any one man complete control of these departments of our Government which have from the beginning of the Republic been kept entirely separate and independent?

This proposal should give every American grave concern for it is a step towards absolutism and complete dictatorial power.

Frank E. Gannett

Source: Records of the Justice Department, Record Group 60: Correspondence of the Attorney General, case file 235868, National Archives.