Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!
Which Supreme Court nominee was already serving as chief justice — installed by George Washington during a Senate recess and presiding over a full term — when the Senate came back, took up his nomination, and rejected him outright?
Hint: It was the first time the Senate ever refused to confirm a Supreme Court nominee, and his 138 days remain the shortest tenure of any chief justice in history. What sank him was a fiery speech he’d given back home denouncing a controversial treaty with Great Britain, enraging the Federalist senators who had just voted to ratify it.
See the answer on the next page.