Supreme Court Justice Souters Fountain Pen and Ink...

November 30, 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ondina @ May 3 2009, 01:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1042888"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>And I'd like to add another thought: the world could use more people that thinks a sober, well made pen and a quality paper is all one needs to perform a task with dignity, because is the mind that drives the pen what makes the difference, not the bling, cost or number of pens, or how exotic the color of the ink is.

I will personally miss dearly a generation whose emphasis was on who you were, not how much you had but how it was used, that took care of the small details, and showed unparalleled class in frugality. Men in white shirts of rolled up sleeves whose personality and laughter could brighten up any place, of women that could tie a piece of cloth around her heads in a blinking of an eye to look like the Queen of Saba and spread panache around with a personal elegance that no money could ever buy.</div>

Beautiful! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":clap1:" border="0" alt="clap1.gif" />

So true.

November 30, 2009

QUOTE (Ondina @ May 3 2009, 01:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1042888"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>And I'd like to add another thought: the world could use more people that thinks a sober, well made pen and a quality paper is all one needs to perform a task with dignity, because is the mind that drives the pen what makes the difference, not the bling, cost or number of pens, or how exotic the color of the ink is.

I will personally miss dearly a generation whose emphasis was on who you were, not how much you had but how it was used, that took care of the small details, and showed unparalleled class in frugality. Men in white shirts of rolled up sleeves whose personality and laughter could brighten up any place, of women that could tie a piece of cloth around her heads in a blinking of an eye to look like the Queen of Saba and spread panache around with a personal elegance that no money could ever buy.</div>

Beautiful! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":clap1:" border="0" alt="clap1.gif" />

So true.

November 30, 2009

QUOTE (ZeissIkon @ Jul 14 2009, 10:15 AM) After Souter's retirement, it certainly won't be an issue for him, but aren't there rather strict Federal regulations on what gifts those in public office (especially office for life, like Supreme Court Justice) can accept? I seem to recall that the President and First Lady are forbidden to accept anything from foreign givers, regardless of value or utility -- the gifts aren't returned, however; instead, they're put into a sort of "coventry" storage.

Sending a pen to Kennedy or Scalia might seem like a nifty idea -- but it seems it would bear checking if they'd even be permitted to accept and use it...

They're allowed gifts, provided they disclose. Interestingly enough, Souter's annual declaration usually read "none", according to Toobin's book.

In reply to all the above, which I had followed with interest, I received an email from one of my snail friends who said the following...........and gave permission for me to post it here...........

Hi all. I can't remember which pen list, but earlier this year, there was a posting about Justice David Souter and fountain pens. Specifically, it was stated that he uses a fountain pen to write his decisions in longhand. If I remember correctly, the information came from a letter from someone at the Supreme Court. I also remember there was some discussion of what pen he might use. In any event, Friday night, I ran into Justice (former Justice?) Souter at a local grocery store. He was NH Attorney General when I was in the Legislature. So, I know him enough to say hello. I mentioned that I needed to speak with him about fountain pens. He was somewhat surprised. I told him about the internet discussion about his decision writing with a fountain pen. He said it was untrue, completely false. He has never written a decision with a fountain pen. He does use a fountain pen for personal writing. He also said it cleared up a mystery - he didn't know why he was getting letters asking about fountain pens. So, now we know from the source! Peter Hildreth By the way, I did get to show him my "survivor pen" - a modern Conklin orange (lava swirl) pen. Perhaps he will be interested in the Boston Pen Show next year!

Haha, I love this!! Why do all these people want to know about my fountain pens? Where are all these letters coming from? The FPN, Justice Souter, The FPN!! We are a bunch of wonderfully crazy people!!

November 30, 2009

... I ran into Justice (former Justice?) Souter at a local grocery store...

Supreme Court Justices are among the few American officials who retain their government title of office into retirement. So it is still correct to address him as "Justice Souter," or more formally as "Mr. Justice Souter."

Governors, US Senators, and of course The President are additional examples.

November 30, 2009

QUOTE (ZeissIkon @ Jul 14 2009, 10:15 AM) After Souter's retirement, it certainly won't be an issue for him, but aren't there rather strict Federal regulations on what gifts those in public office (especially office for life, like Supreme Court Justice) can accept? I seem to recall that the President and First Lady are forbidden to accept anything from foreign givers, regardless of value or utility -- the gifts aren't returned, however; instead, they're put into a sort of "coventry" storage.

Sending a pen to Kennedy or Scalia might seem like a nifty idea -- but it seems it would bear checking if they'd even be permitted to accept and use it...

They're allowed gifts, provided they disclose. Interestingly enough, Souter's annual declaration usually read "none", according to Toobin's book.

In reply to all the above, which I had followed with interest, I received an email from one of my snail friends who said the following...........and gave permission for me to post it here...........

Hi all. I can't remember which pen list, but earlier this year, there was a posting about Justice David Souter and fountain pens. Specifically, it was stated that he uses a fountain pen to write his decisions in longhand. If I remember correctly, the information came from a letter from someone at the Supreme Court. I also remember there was some discussion of what pen he might use. In any event, Friday night, I ran into Justice (former Justice?) Souter at a local grocery store. He was NH Attorney General when I was in the Legislature. So, I know him enough to say hello. I mentioned that I needed to speak with him about fountain pens. He was somewhat surprised. I told him about the internet discussion about his decision writing with a fountain pen. He said it was untrue, completely false. He has never written a decision with a fountain pen. He does use a fountain pen for personal writing. He also said it cleared up a mystery - he didn't know why he was getting letters asking about fountain pens. So, now we know from the source! Peter Hildreth By the way, I did get to show him my "survivor pen" - a modern Conklin orange (lava swirl) pen. Perhaps he will be interested in the Boston Pen Show next year!
Haha, I love this!! Why do all these people want to know about my fountain pens? Where are all these letters coming from? The FPN, Justice Souter, The FPN!! We are a bunch of wonderfully crazy people!!

It should not have been any complete mystery to Justice Souter. In my letter to him, I mentioned FPN and gave the url and noted that there were discussions here about his use of FP's and what kind he used, I also mentioned that in fact, that he used an Esterbrook (supposidly) was a reason in my writing him.

Bruce in Ocala, FL