If it hadn’t been said, someone would have to make it up.
President Richard Nixon nominated G. Harrold Carswell to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Carswell had an undistinguished career, one that might be described as “mediocre,” which engendered opposition to the nomination.
Nebraska Republican, Sen. Roman Hruska, spoke in defense of the nomination.
Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they, and a little chance? We can’t have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos.[11]
The nomination failed.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 