Tom C. Clark

Tom C. Clark
The Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States (Artist: C. Gregory Stapko)
Media Items
Personal Information
Born: 
Saturday, September 23, 1899
Died: 
Monday, June 13, 1977
Childhood Location: 
Texas
Childhood Surroundings: 
Texas
Religion: 
Presbyterian
Ethnicity: 
Scotch
Father: 
William H. Clark
Father's Occupation: 
Lawyer
Mother: 
Jennie Falls
Family Status: 
Upper-middle
Position: 
Associate Justice
Seat: 
11
Nominated By: 
Truman
Commissioned on: 
Thursday, August 18, 1949
Sworn In: 
Tuesday, August 23, 1949
Left Office: 
Sunday, June 11, 1967
Reason For Leaving: 
Retired
Home: 
Texas
Birth Place: 
Texas
Biography: 

Tom C. Clark was born, raised, and educated in Texas. The son of a prominent politician, Clark was active in Texas Democratic politics. He joined the Justice Department in 1937 and served as civilian coordinator of the forced evacuation of Japanese-Americans from the West Coast during World War II. President Harry S Truman appointed Clark attorney general in 1945, and nominated him to the High Court in 1949. Truman later lamented his choice. "It's not that he's a bad man," rued Truman. "It's just that he's the dumbest sonofabitch I ever met." Clark resigned in 1967 to avoid any question of conflict of interest after President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Clark's son, Ramsey, to serve as Attorney General.

Baseball File: