William O. Douglas--What's My Line

Supreme Court Associate Justice William O. Douglas (1939-1975) was a contestant on WML in this clip.

Episode originally aired on 06 May 1956.

• Category

  Entertainment

[soulierinvestments]

Here is a story I would like to hear. I understand how John Daly's father-in-law Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren came to appear on WML, but how did the producers convince William O Douglas to appear? Would Antonin Scalia ever appear on GSN Lingo?

[crepehanger47]

May have been money--seriously. Douglas was always perpetually worrying about money, and that got worse as he got older and had 2-3 divorce settlements.

[tefisher1984]

Happy 110th birthday William O. Douglas!

[advisory0401]

But all justice agreed Wickard v. Filburn , I do not think there are problems. Douglas has protection of civil liberties is very supportive. no Douglas, Black, Warren, Marshall, no United States today. I very recommend you see The Brethren (byBob Woodward and Scott Armstrong,) You can feel Douglas were great justice.

[jess n]

what a cool signature william o. douglas had.

[bill carson]

Dorothy was soooo hot

[Jkins20]

What a G

[bduhe219]

HE WAS A CHAMPION FOR THE UNDER REPRESENTED LITTLE MAN. HE FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN WHERE HE TOGHT THE WERE BEING IGNORED, EVEN WHEN IT WAS VERY UNPOPULAR. HE WAS A HOOT! HE WAS OF PASSION AND VITALITY. ONEOF THE GREATEST S.C. JUSTICES.

[wilverbal]

I wish someone had asked him, "Do you horribly mistreat your clerks?" It would have been sweet to see his reaction to that.

[aldiboronti]

This was a classy game show watched by all the top people. I don't think there's an equivalent now. Scalia and the other justices would certainly have agreed to appear on this but not the cheap trash that's shown today.

[PrivateAckbar]

When I look at how intelligent these people are I get angry at state education... and my mum... and myself.

[AntonBatey]

One of my favorite Justices of all time, up there with Brennan and Thurgood Marshall.

[JP Brown]

Douglas was an iffy justice because he was always angling for a political spot - his big hope was to be Vice President (nearly got the nod ahead of Truman in 1944). As a result he wrote a lot of opinions based on the way the political wind was blowing as opposed to basing them on solid legal principles. It created a lot of issues.

[Brian B]

I am surprised that the women didn't stand to meet a member of the U S Supreme Court.