Letter Accepting the Resignation of Wendell P. Stafford as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.
[Released May 5, 1931. Dated May 4, 1931]
My dear Mr. Justice:
It was with great regret that I received your letter of resignation today. I deeply appreciate your kind personal note of friendship.
I must, of course, accept your resignation. At the same time I would like to express to you the appreciation I have, and that I know the public has for the long and devoted service given to the country, and for the high ideals of the Federal Bench which you have so consistently maintained.
In the release from your responsibilities of office, I wish for you every happiness.
Yours faithfully,
HERBERT HOOVER
[The Honorable Wendell P. Stafford, Justice of the Supreme Court, Washington, D.C.]
Note: Justice Stafford's letter of resignation and an accompanying letter, both dated May 4, 1931, and released with the President's letter, read as follows:
Dear Mr. President:
Enclosed herewith is my formal resignation. But I feel that I cannot let it go to you without a warmer and more human word.
I pray earnestly for your welfare and success, not only because they mean the welfare and success of the whole country, but also because, with great admiration, I am, faithfully and devotedly yours
WENDELL P. STAFFORD
[The President, The White House]
Sir:
Having attained the age of seventy years, and having held under commissions and continuously since the 9th day of June, 1904, the office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, and electing to avail myself of the rights conferred upon me by the statutes in such case made and provided, to-wit, Section 260 of the Judicial Code as amended March 1, 1929; U.S. Code Title 28, Section 375, I hereby resign said office.
Respectfully,
WENDELL P. STAFFORD
Herbert Hoover, Letter Accepting the Resignation of Wendell P. Stafford as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/212611