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[42] kkk [The Marks of Intense Thought and Perseverance] (1807) Joseph Story U.S. Supreme Court justice and Harvard law professor Joseph Story (1779– 1845) was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the son of Dr. Elisha Story and Mehitable Pedrick Story. Graduating from Harvard in 1798, Joseph Story returned to Marblehead to read law. Admitted to the bar in 1801, he began practicing law in Salem, Massachusetts. Though initially a proponent of Jefferson’s politics, Story opposed the embargo President Jefferson had imposed on American exports as an economic sanction against the European powers. In 1811, President Madison nominated Story to the U.S. Supreme Court, despite Jefferson’s misgivings. Story took his seat on the Supreme Court on 3 February 1812 and served on it until his death. As Jefferson anticipated , Story sided with John Marshall, opposing states’ rights and perpetrating a judicial nationalism that sought to expand federal powers broadly. While serving on the bench of the nation’s highest court, Story also cultivated a career as a law professor at Harvard. The law school there had been wallowing for years, but once Story took over the program in 1829, it flourished . Almost single-handedly, he built Harvard Law School into one of the most dynamic programs of legal education in the United States. In addition, his podium became a forum for perpetuating his judicial nationalism. The extract below comes from a letter Story wrote to his friend Judge Samuel Fay. It records his first meeting with Jefferson, a happier time before their political views began to diverge. Joseph Story to Samuel P. P. Fay, 30 May 1807 Jefferson is tall and thin, of a sallow complexion, with a fine, intelligent eye. Dr. M. [Samuel Mitchill] yesterday introduced me, and we spent a half hour with him, in which time he conversed in a very easy, correct, and pleasant style. His language is peculiarly appropriate, and his manner very [43] unaffected. The negligence of his dress a little surprised me. He received us in his slippers, and wore old-fashioned clothes, which were not in the nicest order, or of the most elegant kind; a blue coat, white worked cassimere waistcoat and corduroy breeches, (I beg your pardon, I mean small clothes,) constituted his dress. You know Virginians have some pride in appearing in simple habiliments, and are willing to rest their claim to attention upon their force of mind and suavity of manners. The President is a little awkward in his first address, but you are immediately at ease in his presence. His manners are inviting and not uncourtly; and his voice flexible and distinct. He bears the marks of intense thought and perseverance in his countenance. The miniature lately published by Field in Boston is a very excellent likeness. I visited him again this morning in company with Mr. Madison, at whose house I breakfasted, and conversed with him upon politics in a perfectly familiar manner. His smile is very engaging and impresses you with cheerful frankness. His familiarity, however, is tempered with great calmness of manner and with becoming propriety. Open to all, he seems willing to stand the test of inquiry, and to be weighed in the balance only by his merit and attainments. You may measure if you please, and cannot easily misjudge. On the whole, I confess he appears to me a clear and intelligent man, ready and discriminating, but more formed by philosophical reflection, than by rapid, enterprising, overbearing genius. If he chooses, he cannot fail to please. If he cannot awe, he will not sink into neglect. The current of his thoughts is gentle and uniform, unbroken by the torrent of eloquence, and unruffled by the fervor of vivid internal flame. Take this passing sketch and color it to your own fancy. From William W. Story, Life and Letters of Joseph Story, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Dane Professor of Law at Harvard University, 2 vols. (Boston : Charles C. Little, 1851), 1: 151–152. Joseph Story ...

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