A Well-Paid Slave

by Brad Snyder

  274 “Your rebuttal time”; “Excuse me”: Supreme Court transcript, 19-20 (Burger).

  274 Supreme Court clerks: Law Clerk interviews, 1/13/04, 3/23/05.

  274 Instead of immediately sitting: Supreme Court transcript, 20-21.

  274 “He never got”: Dan Levitt interview.

  274 “Thank you”: Supreme Court transcript, 21 (Burger).

  274 Paul Porter’s job; In preparing; “If you answer”: Lou Hoynes interview.

  274 “Mr. Chief Justice, may it please”; “this litigation involves”: Supreme Court transcript, 21 (Porter).

  275 Brennan asked; Porter explained: Ibid., 22-24 (Brennan and Porter).

  275 White jumped in; “But doesn’t”; Porter answered: Ibid., 24 (White and Porter).

  275 “But Mr. Porter”; Porter explained; “Are you saying”; “Absolutely, yes”: Ibid., 24-25 (Brennan and Porter).

  275 Hoynes wanted: Lou Hoynes interview.

  276 Hoynes’s journey: Robert Kheel interview.

  276 “Mr. Chief Justice”; “I am counsel”: Supreme Court transcript, 25 (Hoynes).

  276 “It is your position”; Hoynes conceded: Ibid. (Douglas and Hoynes).

  276 “much broader”; “real protagonists”: Ibid., 25-26 (Hoynes).

  276 White asked: Ibid., 26-28 (White and Hoynes).

  276 Hoynes tried to make: Lou Hoynes interview.

  277 Pittsburgh sold: Hutchinson, The Man Who Was Once Whizzer White, 158.

  277 As an intelligence officer: Ibid., 175-78.

  277 “This guy”: Nixon Tapes, 733-10, 6/14/72, NARA, College Park, Maryland.

  277 He despised: Hutchinson, The Man Who Was Once Whizzer White, 447-48.

  277 terrified: Law Clerk interview, 3/23/05.

  277 Ford Frick: Hutchinson, The Man Who Was Once Whizzer White, 378.

  277 A few people: Ibid., 377-79.

  277 Hoynes knew: Lou Hoynes interview.

  278 Thurgood Marshall picked up: Supreme Court transcript, 28 (Marshall).

  278-79 “Mr. Hoynes”; Of Flood’s trade; “My question was”; “I call it a union”; “So you’re saying”: Ibid., 28-30 (Marshall and Hoynes).

  279 Marshall repeatedly asked Hoynes: Ibid., 30-31 (Marshall and Hoynes).

  279 “Well, what good”; “What has it done”; “Wouldn’t you say nothing”; “Wouldn’t you say under”: Ibid., 31 (Marshall).

  279 Hoynes tried to respond: Ibid., 31-32 (Hoynes).

  279 “How is this union”: Ibid., 32 (Marshall).

  279 Hoynes said the union: Ibid., 32-33 (Hoynes).

  280 “None of this”; “His playing”; “That’s what I thought” (on audio only): Ibid., 33-34 (Marshall and Hoynes).

  280 Marshall swiveled in his chair: Lou Hoynes interview; Robert Kheel interview.

  280 “[T]he players union”; “This testimony”: Supreme Court transcript, 34 (Hoynes).

  280 “hanging curveballs”: Lou Hoynes interview.

  280 White asked: Supreme Court transcript, 42-48 (White and Hoynes).

  281 White’s line of questioning allowed: Ibid., 47 (White and Hoynes).

  281 Hoynes’s associate: Robert Kheel interview.

  281 Hoynes discussed: Supreme Court transcript, 49-50 (Hoynes).

  281 “They got my best”: Lou Hoynes interview.

  281 As Hoynes finished: Ibid.; Robert Kheel interview.

  281 “Thank you, gentlemen”: Supreme Court transcript, 50 (Burger).

  281 “That was the worst”; “It was one”: Dan Levitt interview.

  282 After the glare: NYT, 3/21/72, 49.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Page

  283 Nearly five hours: The conference began at 3:15 p.m. 1972 Appointment Book, Blackmun Papers, Box 60, Folder 9, and handwritten conference notes, Box 145, Folder 2; handwritten conference notes, Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  283 The only record: The dialogue at conference is reconstructed from handwritten notes of three justices: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court”; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8. The votes, but not what was said, were confirmed by Powell’s papers, Box 148.

  283 The other justices sometimes: Schwartz, The Ascent of Pragmatism, 12.

  283 Toolson was wrong: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court”; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8.

  284 “muddies the waters”: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  284 Professional baseball: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  284 Brennan explained: Ibid.; Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  284 Stewart voted: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  284 He agreed with Stewart: Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8.

  284 believed that Stewart: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  285 “untenable”: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  285 He viewed: Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8.

  285 “tentatively affirm”: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  285 It made no sense: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  285 Before Powell spoke: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  285 He agreed with Stewart; state antitrust claims: Ibid.; Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Brennan Papers, Box I:253, Folder 8.

  285 Burger reiterated: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  286 “social and intellectual”: Nixon Tapes, 733-10, 6/14/72.

  286 At one of those parties: Lukas, “Playboy Interview: BobWoodward,” Playboy, 2/89, 62-63.

  286 They communicate: Perry, Deciding to Decide, 148-49.

  286 I have now verified: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Misc. Memos, Cert Memos, Vote of Court.”

  287 Rehnquist participated: WP, 6/29/72, A21.

  287 He released a memo: NYT, 10/18/72, 1, 47.

  287 Scalia released: Cheney v. U.S. District Court, 124 S. Ct. 1391 (March 18, 2004) (Scalia, J., denying motion to recuse).

  287 That included 880; The ABA: NYT, 10/30/71, 12.

  287 “If they should”: Nominations of Rehnquist and Powell, 92nd Cong., 1st Sess., 11/8/71, 204; NYT, 11/9/71, 19; Jeffries, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., 237.

  288 “Mets 2, Reds 0”: Blackmun Papers, Box 116, Folder 1.

  288 Two years later; He also exchanged notes: Ibid., Folder 2.

  288 They maintained: Greenhouse, Becoming Justice Blackmun, 20-41.

  288 Upon being confirmed: Ibid., 42-43.

  288 At a Washington luncheon: Rochester Post-Bulletin, 8/14/70, 10, in Blackmun Papers, Box 1436, Folder 10.

  289 “ ‘a vast mental storehouse’ ”; “[t]he presence”: TSN, 5/30/70, 16.

  289 “old number three”: Greenhouse, Becoming Justice Blackmun, 51, 189.

  289 where he had finished 120th: Ibid., 12.

  289 “willing to overrule”: Handwritten Notes, 2/72, 1, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  290 1) Affirm Federal Baseball: Ibid., 2.

  290 “I suspect it”: Handwritten Notes, 3/15/72, 1, ibid.

  290 1. Abandon Federal Baseball: Ibid., 2.

  291 “a case of stare decisis”: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 190.

  291 “Harry, do it”: Blackmun Oral History, 12/13/95, 473.

  291 Jimmy “the Greek”: WP, 2/26/72, D
3.

  291 David Feller: WES, 4/14/72, F-4.

  292 “senior partner”: Letter from Goldberg to Feller, 5/1/72, Goldberg Papers, Box I-70, Folder 4.

  292 “I didn’t say”; “a somewhat cynical”: Letter from Feller to Goldberg, 5/12/72, ibid.

  292 “It’s in the bag”: Dan Levitt interview.

  292 “capital punishment”: Nixon Tapes, 733-10, 6/14/72.

  292 “Remand Likely”: WES, 3/21/72, C1, in Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 3.

  292-93 Harold J. Spaeth; “[t]he vote”: SI, 4/24/72, 9, in Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 3; Los Angeles Herald Examiner, 4/16/72, E-6.

  293 The Court used to be: Lewis, Gideon’s Trumpet, 29.

  293 He worked: 1972 Appointment Book, Blackmun Papers, Box 60, Folder 9.

  293 The books: Flood v. Kuhn, 407 U.S. 258, 262 n. 2 (1972).

  293 Dear Potter: Memo from Blackmun to Stewart, 5/4/72, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  294 “Then there are”; “The list”: 5/5/72 Draft, 4-5, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Flood, 407 U.S. at 262-63.

  294 “These are names”: 5/5/72 Draft, 5 n. 3; Flood, 407 U.S. at 263 n. 3.

  295 He referred to: 5/5/72 Draft, 5 and nn. 4-5; Flood, 407 U.S. at 263-64 and nn. 4-6.

  295 “business”; “exception”; “Even though”: 5/5/72 Draft, 23-24; Flood, 407 U.S. at 282 (citation omitted).

  295 “We continue to be”: 5/5/72 Draft, 25; Flood, 407 U.S. at 283-84.

  295 “If there is any”: 5/5/72 Draft, 25; Flood, 407 U.S. at 284.

  296 chagrin: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 191.

  296 “I like that”; “Didn’t I”; “No”: Blackmun Oral History, 4/24/95, 184.

  296 Eppa Rixey: Bill James, using a statistical formula to translate a pitcher’s win-loss record into “win points,” found that Rixey had the second-lowest total of any starting pitcher in the Hall of Fame. James, The Politics of Glory, 269.

  296 On May 9, Stewart: Memo from Stewart to Conference, 5/12/72, Marshall Papers, Box 87, Folder 10.

  297 On May 8, Powell: Memo from Powell to Blackmun, 5/8/72, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Powell Papers, Box 148.

  297 On May 11, Douglas: Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d) “Typed draft, Penciled draft, Riders.”

  297 “is a derelict”: Flood, 407 U.S. at 286 (Douglas, J., dissenting).

  297 “lived”: Ibid., n.1.

  297-98 “big business”; “The beneficiaries”; “victims of”; “If congressional”: Ibid., 287.

  298 “The unbroken silence”: Ibid., 288.

  298 The day Douglas circulated: Letter from Reed to Douglas, 5/11/72, Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d), “Law Clerk.”

  298 “To non-athletes”: Flood, 407 U.S. at 289 (Marshall, J., dissenting).

  298 “torn between”; “are totally”: Ibid., 290.

  298 “The importance”: Ibid., 292.

  298 “does not mean”: Ibid., 293.

  299 “none of the prior”; “the issue”: Ibid., 294-95.

  299 “Five votes”: Hentoff, “Profile: The Constitutionalist,” New Yorker, 3/12/90, 60.

  300 On May 12, Brennan: Marshall Papers, Box 87, Folder 10.

  300 At the end of the term: 1971 Case History, Brennan Papers, Box II-6, Folder 14, 15.

  300 Douglas learned: Letter from Reed to Douglas, 5/11/72, Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d) “Law Clerk.”

  300 On May 15, however, Rehnquist: Marshall Papers, Box 87, Folder 10.

  300 Around the same time: Ibid.; Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d) “Final Gallery—galley proofs.”

  300 A Rehnquist clerk; Blackmun’s law clerk: Law Clerk interview, 5/19/05; Law Clerk interview, 3/23/05; Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 190.

  301 Woodward and Armstrong: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 191.

  301 “knocking fungoes”: Letter from Blackmun to Daniel Crystal, 10/9/80, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 3.

  301 Indeed he was: 5/5/72 Draft, 4-5, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  301 Blackmun recalled only one justice’s: Ibid.; Letter from Blackmun to Jim Caple, 2/11/97, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 4.

  301 On May 25, he: 5/25 Draft, 5, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2; Flood, 407 U.S. at 263.

  301 On March 11, Reed; “Justice White’s clerks”: Letter from Reed to Douglas, 5/11/72, Douglas Papers, Box 1561, Folder 71-32(d) “Law Clerk.”

  301 Ten days later; According to rumor: Letter from Reed to Douglas, 5/21/72, ibid.

  302 One of Marshall’s law clerks; “He’ll never join”: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 191.

  302 On March 26; Dear Harry: Memo from White to Blackmun and Conference, 5/26/72, Marshall Papers, Box 87, Folder 10.

  303 “cut the corners”: Law Clerk interview, 1/13/04.

  304 allowing Burger to lobby: Greenhouse, Becoming Justice Blackmun, 46.

  304 was spending an unusual: Law clerk interview, 3/23/05.

  304 He frequently: Blackmun Papers, Box 1403, Folders 4 and 5.

  304 On June 13, Burger: Marshall Papers, Box 87, Folder 10.

  304 [L]ike Mr. Justice Douglas: Flood, 407 U.S. at 285-86 (Burger, C. J., concurring).

  305 “thought perhaps”: Blackmun Oral History, 7/6/94, 18.

  305 He never discussed: Ibid., 4/24/95, 184.

  305 Rumors spread: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 192.

  305 Blackmun had asked: Letter from Blackmun to Burger, 1/18/72, Douglas Papers, Box 1522, Folder “Administrative Memoranda by Court”; Garrow, Liberty and Sexuality, 537-38.

  305 “the real reason”: 1971 Case History at CXLVI, Brennan Papers, Box II-6, Folder 15. Blackmun expressed similar concerns to Justice Powell in private. Ibid., CXLVI-VII. See also ibid., LI, Brennan Papers, Box II-6, Folder 14 (repeating Blackmun’s statement at conference).

  305 He inserted Jimmie Foxx: Flood, 407 U.S. at 263.

  305 On June 1, Blackmun: Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  306 “He can speak”: NYT, 6/1/72, 46.

  306 Blackmun slipped: Flood, 407 U.S. at 263.

  306 Blackmun gave the book: Blackmun Papers, Box 1374, Folder 4.

  306 Blackmun placed an arrow: 1972 Appointment Book, Blackmun Papers, Box 60, Folder 9.

  306 “This case presents”; “This case is one”: Flood Announcement, 6/19/72, 1, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  306 At that moment, Nina Totenberg; Powell winked: LAT, 6/20/72, E5; MJ, 6/20/72, in Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 3.

  306 “took no part in”: Flood Announcement, 6/19/72, 3, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  307 He had already made: Letter from Douglas to Burger, 6/15/72, Douglas Papers, Box 1524, Folder 1.

  307 “JUDGMENT FLOOD”: U.S. Sct. Appellate Case Files, 71-32 to 71-36, NARA, Washington, D.C., Box 87; Goldberg Papers, Box I-94, Folder 12.

  307 Goldberg called Henry: Letter from Goldberg to Levitt, 7/12/72, Goldberg Papers, Box I-94, Folder 12.

  307 Putzel conferred: Letter from Putzel to Burger and White, 6/26/71, U.S. Sct. Appellate Case Files, NARA, Washington, D.C., Box 87.

  307 Putzel notified Blackmun: Letters from Putzel to Blackmun, 6/14/72, 6/16/72, 6/26/72, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 2.

  307 “was not surprised”: Letter from Goldberg to Topkis, 7/12/72, Goldberg Papers, Box I-94, Folder 12.

  307 “Supreme Court screwed us”: Letter from Topkis to Goldberg, 6/30/72, Goldberg Papers, Box I-94, Folder 12.

  307 Dan Levitt did not think: Dan Levitt interview.

  307 But Peter Westen: Peter Westen interview.

  308 The Players Association; “The only bad thing”: Letter from Topkis to Miller, 8/2/72, Goldberg Papers, Box I-94, Folder 12.

  308 “constructive”; “The decision”: NYT, 6/20/72, 45.

  308 “Renewed?”: NYT, 6/21/72, 33.

  308 “that the Congress”: WP, 6/20/72, D1.

  308 “The original reserve”: WES, 6/19/70, C-1.

  30
8 “I hope you”: SFC, 8/10/72.

  309 “By the time”: CST, 6/23/72, 126.

  309 “cop-out”; “a disappointment”: NYT, 6/21/72, 33.

  309 The New York Times: NYT, 6/23/72, 36; WP, 6/21/72, A22; WES, 6/21/72, A-14; BMS, 6/23/72, A-14; MST, 6/21/72, 8A; SPD, 6/22/72, 2E.

  309 the Sporting News, Dick Young: TSN, 7/3/72, 4; NYDN, 6/21/72, 115; TSN, 7/8/72, 4; SGD, 10/17/72, 2C; BRA, 6/21/72, in Miller Papers, Box 3, Folder 9.

  309 “sentimental journey”: Blackmun Oral History, 4/24/95, 184.

  309 “Presumably”: LAT, 6/22/72, pt. III, 1.

  309 “amused”; “the complete antagonism”: Harry Blackmun interview with Bill Moyers.

  309 “embarrassed”: Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 191.

  309-10 In December 1979; The next morning; During oral argument: William Murphy interview; Note from Blackmun to Stewart, 12/5/79, Blackmun Papers, Box 116, Folder 2.

  310 “embarrassed”; “nonsense”: Note from Blackmun to Stewart, 12/5/79, Blackmun Papers, Box 116, Folder 2.

  310 Nearly 10 years later, Woodward: Lukas, “Playboy Interview: Bob Woodward,” Playboy, 2/89, 62-63.

  310 [W]hen I talked to him: Blackmun Oral History, 9/18/95, 292.

  310 lending each other: In 1979, for example, Blackmun borrowed Stewart’s copy of Robert W. Creamer’s seminal Babe Ruth biography, Babe. Blackmun Papers, Box 1408, Folder 13.

  310 “an almost comical adherence”: Eskridge, “Overruling Statutory Precedents,” 76 Geo L.J. 1361, 1381 (1988).

  310 most scholars: Ross, “Reconsidering Flood v. Kuhn,” 12 U. Miami Ent. & Sports L. Rev. 169, 171-72 (1995) (cataloging the reasons why scholars have agreed or disagreed with Blackmun’s decision).

  310 The reason for the Court’s decision: Bill Eskridge interview.

  310 “Baskin v. Robbins”; “There are many”: Bill Iverson interview.

  311 “I shall never”; “Mel Ott?”: Bill Murphy interview; Lazarus, Closed Chambers, 21-22; Woodward and Armstrong, The Brethren, 192.

  311 “[I]t’s been”: Blackmun Oral History, 7/6/94, 18; see also ibid., 4/24/95, 184.

  311 A week after; In 1973, a friend; Two years later: Letter from Jerry R. Erickson to Blackmun, 6/21/72; Letter from W. W. Baade to Blackmun, undated; Letter from Judge Robb to Blackmun, 7/21/75, Blackmun Papers, Box 145, Folder 3.

  311 The 47th member: Bruce Ladd interview.