A Moment That Shaped Supreme Court History

In 1987, a seemingly simple question had a big impact on the future of the Supreme Court. It was September 19, and Robert Bork was in the hot seat. He had spent five long days testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee had even called a special Saturday meeting for a final round of questions. Bork was up for a spot on the Supreme Court, but things weren't looking good for him. Bork was a big deal in legal circles. He had served as a judge on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Before that, he had been the solicitor general under Presidents Nixon and Ford. He had also taught law at Yale. But his nomination was in trouble, and everyone knew it. Senator Alan Simpson, a Republican from Wyoming, was one of Bork's biggest supporters on the committee. He took the floor for a long, rambling speech. He talked about how future Supreme Court nominees would never be as open about their views as Bork had been. He then shared a personal habit. He read the Rudyard Kipling poem "If" to himself and his three kids. He found it especially meaningful. Simpson recited the poem from memory, only glancing down at his notes occasionally. He emphasized certain lines, like "If you can keep your head when all about you/ Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, " and "If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken/ Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. " It was a strange performance, to say the least. After his speech, Simpson finally got to the point. He asked Bork a question that would echo through history. "Why do you want to be an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court? " It was a simple question, but it had a big impact. It made people think about what drives someone to want a seat on the highest court in the land. The question also highlighted the intense scrutiny that Supreme Court nominees face. Every word they say is analyzed, every action is scrutinized. It's a high-pressure situation, and Bork was feeling the heat. But Simpson's question gave him a chance to reflect on his motivations and reaffirm his commitment. It was a pivotal moment in the nomination process, and it showed just how much a single question can shape the course of history.