Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs in Business, Education, Health, and Law, 1993 Book

There is a lot to the life of John Marshall. A war veteran who knew how to lead men, he went on to become a successful attorney leading people to what he thought was right in the courtroom. He was also a successful diplomat representing America well in the XYZ affair resisting the request for a bribe from the French government asking to be paid in return for not attacking American ships.

He was selected for the Supreme Court in the waning days of John Adams presidency. Much to the chagrin of in the incoming president Thomas Jefferson, who was very upset to see someone of the opposite party with political values very different than his, placed in the position of Chief Judge. If the retiring judge could have waiting just two more months Jefferson could have recommended someone not so keen on giving the federal government much more power than the states. His long tenure on the court led to the same type of concerns we hear today about life time appointments. Many political concerns with how the Supreme Court operates have been around since the beginning.

Marshall lived much longer than most of his contemporaries. One reason is probably because he took a brisk three mile walk every day. Marshall, like many men who become someone in life over the past few hundred years, was part of a group of men who would get together on a regular basis and enjoy each others company. The rule for one such group he was in for decades was no talk of politics. When we look at many of the great men in history, they became great because they learned how to be men from other men.

There are many reasons our country and our government operate the way they do. John Marshall's life and legacy in pushing for the power of the federal over the state and for the law over politics and feelings when deciding cases is certainly part of why we are the way we are today.