Senate votes on Supreme Court nominations

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Carter did not have any opportunity to nominate a Justice, as there was no vacancy between 1977 and 1980. This had the highly significant effect of no Justice being nominated by a Democratic President between 1969 and 1992 inclusive.

Stevens – Ford’s only nomination – was confirmed unanimously.

With Nixon, by contrast there are a few to look at closely.

William Rehnquist as Associate Justice (lighter shading indicates one Senator did not vote, otherwise as in other maps):

Lewis F. Powell:

Warren E. Burger as Chief Justice:

G. Harrold Carswell:

Clement Haynsworth:

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For Lyndon B. Johnson:

Thurgood Marshall:

I think that, as James Loewen has shown (Sundown Towns) this result reflects how politicians are much less insular than the communities they represent, at all events federal politicians in rural states. In the Plains and Rocky Mountain States, where every voting Senator voted for Marshall, I have come to think that the actual populaces might have voted again him if a referendum could have been held.

Abe Fortas as Chief Justice: