“Lost to History”: Uses and Abuses of the Past in Slaughter and Cook

The Supreme Court, in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook, expanded presidential authority to remove federal agency officials, overturning a 1935 precedent. Chief Justice John Roberts cited the 1926 Myers v. United States case, which involved President Woodrow Wilson's controversial removal of a postmaster, as a foundation for the new ruling. Critics argue the Court ignored conflicting historical evidence, particularly suggesting Wilson's wife may have influenced the Myers decision.