Today in History (1965) - Justice Abe Fortas was sworn in. Fortas provided behind-the-scenes advice to Democratic politicians for years prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court by President Lyndon Johnson, and represented Johnson when Johnson's 84-vote victory in the 1948 Texas Democratic primary was challenged. Fortas's nomination to the Chief Justice seat in 1968 was filibustered, and coupling Fortas' nomination with that of Johnson's old friend from Texas, Homer Thornberry, fueled charges of cronyism. Fortas resigned from the Court in 1969 after accusations of financial impropriety.