People, Jun. 7, 1971

Justice is sometimes served in mysterious ways. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun told a commencement day audience at Hamline University last week that when he took his place on that exalted bench, he was amazed to find that each Justice had a box of cough drops in a drawer in front of him. "I don't know why," said Blackmun, "because we don't say much." In Blackmun's box was a single cough drop. "It tasted like it had been there since 1902. Then I didn't know what to do with the empty box. I glanced around and saw another Justice throw...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!