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The article discusses two books reviewed in the Journal of Supreme Court History. The first book, "Vaulting Ambition" by Michael Nelson, focuses on FDR's attempt to pack the Supreme Court in 1937. The second book, "Justice and Faith" by Greg Zipes, explores the life of Frank Murphy, a Supreme Court justice with a diverse background. Both books provide valuable insights into significant historical events and individuals, offering readers a deeper understanding of the Supreme Court's history and the impact of key decisions. [Extracted from the article]

Change at the Supreme Court may be most visible and frequent in the progression of statutory and constitutional questions the Justices resolve collectively, but it may also be equally highlighted by an individual Justice's decision. This reality became plainly apparent in a letter that Justice John Paul Stevens sent to the White House on April 9, 2010, just eleven days shy of his 90 birthday: 'My dear Mr. President: Having concluded that it would be in the best interests of the Court to have my successor appointed and confirmed well in advance of the commencement of the Court's next Term, I shall retire from regular active service as an Associate Justice ... effective the next day after the Court rises for the summer recess this year.' His statement was dated almost a year after Justice David Souter dispatched a similar notice to President Obama on May 1, 2009, announcing his intention to leave the Bench. Thus, for the fifth time in as many years, the machinery of executive nomination and senatorial advice and consent for the High Court churned again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the accomplishment of Morrison R. Waite as chief justice in the U.S. Enumeration of the tenures of the chief justices in the country; List of the justices who made up the tribunal of Waite; Performance of Waite as court leader.