The notorious RBG, Bill Clinton, and the Civil War

Former President Bill Clinton was interviewed by MARGARET BRENNAN on "Face the Nation" on 20 September 2020; the transcript of the interview included the following: MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, as you mentioned, it's getting pretty politically heated. If a Democrat were in the White House and the Democrats had control of the Senate, wouldn't they insist on a vote on a nomination while in control? PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: I don't know. There is a difference between what happened with Judge Garland. That is with Judge Garland, you're talking about missing probably one and a half full terms of court. It was almost a year, but there is a tradition of the president foregoing an appointment when you're closer to the election. Abraham Lincoln faced this very thing in early October, Justice Roger Taney died. And he couldn't know for sure whether he was going to win re-election because we didn't have all the tools we have now to determine such things, and even then we don't know. So he knowingly waited until after the election to appoint, as former Treasury Secretary Salmon Chase to the Supreme Court. He thought the people deserve to have a say. Now, that's what Senator McConnell said they deserved back in 10 months before the presidential election of 2016. So it didn't take that long to change their tune. But that is their tune. They're for whatever maximizes their power, and I think that in this case, we should ask. Senator Graham and Senator Grassley, who said they wouldn't vote no matter what the party the president was- [Clinton cut off by Brennan at this point] A timeline of events is useful. June 30, 1864. Lincoln accepts Salmon Chase's resignation of June 29, 1864 [Your resignation of the office of Secretary of the Treasury, sent me yesterday, is accepted. Of all I have said in commendation of your ability and fidelity, I have nothing to unsay; and yet you and I have reached a point of mutual embarrassment in our official relation which it seems can not be overcome, or longer sustained, consistently with the public service. Your Obt. Servt. A. LINCOLN ] August 23, 1864. Lincoln's blind letter to cabinet members [ President Lincoln writes to his Cabinet members in August of 1864 that he does not believe he will be reelected. Lincoln continues, "it will be my duty to so cooperate with the Government [Government crossed out] President-elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards." ] September 4, 1864. Sherman's Special Field Order #64 [Wikipedia: General Sherman announced to his troops that "The army having accomplished its undertaking in the complete reduction and occupation of Atlanta will occupy the place and the country near it until a new campaign is planned in concert with the other grand armies of the United States ] October 12, 1864. Roger Taney died [ wikipedia: October 12, 1864 ] December 6, 1864. Salmon Chase nominated as Chief Justice December 6, 1864. Salmon Chase confirmed as Chief Justice link for Clinton transcript https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-president-bill-clinton-on-face-the-nation-september-20-2020/ [UPDATE on 12 October 2020. As noted in the next IPBiz posts, a number of people have criticized the Clinton version of the story, as re-told by Kamala Harris during the Vice-Presidential debate. Brennan never said a word on September 20 about the inaccuracy.]