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Charles Evans Hughes

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Charles Evans Hughes was a prominent American lawyer, politician, and jurist.

CEHughes
CEHughes

He held several of the highest offices in the United States government. He served as the 36th governor of New York from 1907 to 1910. He was also the 44th U.S. Secretary of State from 1921 to 1925. Most notably, he served as the 11th Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. His career spanned many different branches of government and shaped American law.

Hughes began his journey through education and legal practice.

Charles Evans Hughes, age 16
Charles Evans Hughes, age 16

He was born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1862. He graduated from Brown University at age 19, ranking third in his class. Later, he attended Columbia Law School and graduated first in his class in 1884. He passed the New York bar exam with the highest score ever awarded at that time. He then worked as a lawyer in New York City and even taught at Cornell Law School.

Before entering high politics, Hughes gained fame by investigating corruption.

Charles Evans Hughes and family (retouched)
Charles Evans Hughes and family (retouched)

In 1905, he led a legislative committee to investigate public utilities. He discovered that Consolidated Gas had engaged in tax evasion and fraudulent bookkeeping. He then investigated the life insurance industry through the Armstrong Insurance Commission. His work revealed that executives were receiving huge raises while dividends to policyholders fell. These investigations led to new laws that regulated utilities and changed how insurance companies operated.

His success in investigations helped him become the Governor of New York.

He won the 1906 election with 52 percent of the vote. As governor, he implemented many progressive reforms to improve state government. He expanded civil service positions to reduce corruption. He also passed laws to limit political donations by corporations. To protect workers, he established a maximum 48-hour workweek for manufacturing workers under the age of 16. He also worked to bar younger workers from several dangerous occupations.

Hughes later moved into national politics and diplomacy. He was the Republican nominee for president in 1916, but he lost to Woodrow Wilson. After Warren G. Harding won the presidency in 1920, Hughes became Secretary of State.

Hughes party for Brazil LCCN2014715067
Hughes party for Brazil LCCN2014715067

In this role, he negotiated the Washington Naval Treaty. This treaty was designed to prevent a naval arms race between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. This work showed his ability to handle complex international relations.

In 1930, President Herbert Hoover appointed Hughes as Chief Justice of the United States.

Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes

During his time on the bench, he was a key figure in the "Hughes Court." He often acted as a swing vote between two groups of judges. One group was known as the "Three Musketeers," who were more liberal. The other group was known as the "Four Horsemen," who were more conservative.

Erich Salomon - The Supreme Court, 1932
Erich Salomon - The Supreme Court, 1932

Hughes often worked with Associate Justice Owen Roberts to find middle ground.

The Supreme Court under Hughes saw major legal shifts during the 1930s. In the early part of the decade, the Court struck down several New Deal programs. However, 1937 marked a major turning point for the Court. Hughes and Roberts joined the Three Musketeers to uphold the Wagner Act and a state minimum wage law. This shift helped allow the government's New Deal programs to continue. Hughes remained Chief Justice until his retirement in 1941. He was succeeded by Associate Justice Harlan F. Stone.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Charles Evans Hughes, age 16.jpg
Charles Evans Hughes, age 16.jpg
File:Charles Evans Hughes and family (retouched).jpg
Charles Evans Hughes and family (retouched).jpg
File:CEHughes.png
CEHughes.png
File:Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1902.jpg
Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1902.jpg
File:Charles E Hughes campaigning in Winona MN 1916.jpg
Charles E Hughes campaigning in Winona MN 1916.jpg
File:ElectoralCollege1916.svg
ElectoralCollege1916.svg
File:Charles Evans Hughes residence.jpg
Charles Evans Hughes residence.jpg
File:Hughes party for Brazil LCCN2014715067.jpg
Hughes party for Brazil LCCN2014715067.jpg
File:1924 C Evans Hughes.jpg
1924 C Evans Hughes.jpg
File:Charles Evans Hughes-TIME-1924.jpg
Charles Evans Hughes-TIME-1924.jpg
File:Mrs Antoinette Carter.jpg
Mrs Antoinette Carter.jpg
File:Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.jpg
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.jpg

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