President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats (there were 30 in all) were radio speeches he made describing important current events and political issues to the American people. This particular speech from 1937 expresses his hope that Congress will create legislation for the reorganization of the Supreme Court to increase the number of Justices. Roosevelt introduced the notion of “Court packing,” in which for every Justice on the Supreme Court over 70 years of age, a new Justice would be added.
Fireside Chat on Reorganization of the Judiciary
- 3/9/1937
Description
This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-PPF: Papers as President, President's Personal File.
National Archives Identifier: 197310
Full Citation: Fireside Chat on Reorganization of the Judiciary; 3/9/1937; Collection FDR-PPF: Papers as President, President’s Personal File,. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/fireside-chat-on-reorganization-of-the-judiciary/, March 8, 2026]
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