William O Douglas
Born October 16, 1898, William O. Douglas would become one of the greatest minds to ever serve as a Supreme Court Justice. As a child, Douglas overcame the obstacles of living with polio. ... William O. Douglas will be remembered as a very intelligent individual who served his position to the extent of his ability. Douglas was born in Maine, Minnesota in 1898, however, he would spend his childhood in Yakima, WA. ... Douglas would hike through the mountains in order to help strengthen his legs. ... At the age of 19, Douglas served his a country in the military as an Army private. ... Douglas graduated with his law education from Columbia University in 1925. ... Douglas would practice law in New York from 1925 to 1926. ... Douglas taught at Columbia University and Yale until 1934. William O. Douglas began his political career as a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1936. ... It was from this position that Douglas was asked to serve on the court. ... Douglas was a democrat and received a confirmation vote of 62-4 from Congress. Roosevelt almost chose Douglas to be his running-mate for the presidency in 1944. If Douglas had been Roosevelt’s running-mate in 1944, it would have meant that Douglas would have been Vice-President until the death of FDR in 1945. ... As the son of his father, William Douglas, a Presbytarian minister, Douglas led a very unconventional lifestyle. ... Douglas was married to a woman by the name of Mercedes Hester from 1954 to 1963. ... They were married until Douglas’s death in 1980. William O. Douglas had a two children. As a democrat, Douglas supported unpopular politics. ... Critics said that his work showed signs of haste, but his defenders admired Douglas’s forceful and blunt manner by which he reached the core issue in each case.