It turns out that President Trump conducted a highly competent campaign to reassure Justice Anthony Kennedy that, contrary to his portrayals in the media, he wouldn’t nominate, say, Judge Judy to replace him. From the New York Times:
Inside the White House’s Quiet Campaign to Create a Supreme Court Opening
WASHINGTON — President Trump singled him out for praise even while attacking other members of the Supreme Court. The White House nominated people close to him to important judicial posts. And members of the Trump family forged personal connections.
Their goal was to assure Justice Anthony M. Kennedy that his judicial legacy would be in good hands should he step down at the end of the court’s term this week, as he was rumored to be considering. Allies of the White House were more blunt, warning the 81-year-old justice that time was of the essence. There was no telling, they said, what would happen if Democrats gained control of the Senate after the November elections and had the power to block the president’s choice as his successor.
There were no direct efforts to pressure or lobby Justice Kennedy to announce his resignation on Wednesday, and it was hardly the first time a president had done his best to create a court opening. …
But in subtle and not so subtle ways, the White House waged a quiet campaign to ensure that Mr. Trump had a second opportunity in his administration’s first 18 months to fulfill one of his most important campaign promises to his conservative followers — that he would change the complexion and direction of the Supreme Court.
In contrast, Obama failed to get the even older and sicker Ginsburg out the door.
Justice Kennedy’s son is a corporate banker who has personally taken the lead in loaning Trump’s real estate enterprises a lot of the bank’s money over the years, so the Kennedy family has had in-depth exposure to the more substantive side of Trump than what you see on TV.
It would be interesting to see an objective evaluation of what Presidential skills Trump has proven adept at and where he has proven weakest. Comments?
