John Paul Stevens: Gerald Ford's Judicial Changeling

On December 31, 1974, Justice William O. Douglas is vacationing with his wife in the Bahamas when he suffers a massive stroke. This paralyzes his left arm, renders his legs nearly useless, causes great pain on his left side, and leaves him in a questionable mental state. It is clear that he is unfit for continued service on the court and is finally conv…