Conference notes and draft decisions illustrate the division of opinions before the decision was issued. Justices William O. Douglas, Hugo Black, Harold Hitz Burton, and Sherman Minton were predisposed to overturn Plessy. Fred M. Vinson noted that Congress had not adopted desegregation legislation; Stanley F. Reed discussed incomplete cultural assimilation and states' rights, and was inclined to the view that segregation worked to the benefit of the African-American community; Tom C. Clark wrote that "we had led the states on to think segregation is OK and we should let them work it out." Felix Frankfurter and Robert H. Jackson disapproved of segregation, but were also opposed to judicial activism and expressed concerns about the proposed decision's enforceability. Chief Justice Vinson had been a key stumbling block. After Vinson died in September 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice. Warren had supported the integration of Mexican-American students in California school systems following Mendez v. Westminster. However, Eisenhower invited Earl Warren to a White House dinner, where the president told him: "These [southern whites] are not bad people. All they are concerned about is to see that their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big overgrown Negroes." Nevertheless, the Justice Department sided with the African-American plaintiffs.
Conference notes and draft decisions illustrate the division of opinions before the decision was issued Justices William O Douglas Hugo Black Harold Hitz Burton and Sherman Minton were predisposed to overturn Plessy Fred M Vinson noted that Congress had not adopted desegregation legislation; Stanley F Reed discussed incomplete cultural assimilation and states' rights and was inclined to the view that segregation worked to the benefit of the African-American community; Tom C Clark wrote that "we had led the states on to think segregation is OK and we should let them work it out" Felix Frankfurter and Robert H Jackson disapproved of segregation but were also opposed to judicial activism and expressed concerns about the proposed decision's enforceability Chief Justice Vinson had been a key stumbling block After Vinson died in September 1953 President Dwight D Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice Warren had supported the integration of Mexican-American students in California school systems following Mendez v Westminster However Eisenhower invited Earl Warren to a White House dinner where the president told him "These [southern whites] are not bad people All they are concerned about is to see that their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big overgrown Negroes" Nevertheless the Justice Department sided with the African-American plaintiffs