Well before Abraham Lincoln became the anti-slavery leader he is now known for, a man named Salmon Chase was representing fugitive enslaved people in his Ohio law practice. Chase ignored his political enemies and organized antiracist conferences, and eventually became governor of Ohio. He challenged Lincoln in 1860, and when Lincoln won the White House, he chose Chase for his cabinet. Eventually Lincoln elevated Chase to become the country's sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Now, with President Biden nominating a Black woman for the Court, there are powerful echoes to learn from. We talk with the author of a comprehensive new biography on Chase. Our guests:
- Jeff Ludwig, director of education for the Seward House Museum
- Walter Stahr, author of "Salmon P. Chase: Lincoln's Vital Rival"
