On This Day in 1991: Clarence Thomas Nominated to Supreme Court

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President Bush bids farewell to Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas after a news conference at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, Monday, July 2, 1991. Thomas is vying for the vacancy left by Justice Thurgood Marshall, who is retiring. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)
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(AURN News) — On July 1, 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Dubbed the “anti-Thurgood Marshall” by critics, Thomas faced questions about his limited judicial experience, and his confirmation was nearly derailed after Anita Hill testified that he sexually harassed her while they worked together at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The Senate confirmed Thomas anyway, and he took his seat in October 1991.

Since then, Thomas has consistently opposed affirmative action, despite acknowledging that it helped open doors for him. He also voted to weaken the Voting Rights Act and most recently dissented in support of President Donald Trump’s attempt to narrow birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment through executive order.

Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane

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