Hugo L. Black: Cold Steel Warrior

Abstract How does one begin the story of a great man, someone whose life was full of ironies and paradox? Hugo Black’s eighty-five years were eminently successful ones, although just about each year evidenced discord of some kind for him. Black, however, overcame every crisis in his life in a masterful way. Indeed, Black was outstanding in every role he played–with one exception. He was a harsh, at times cruel, father to his two sons, especially his oldest child, and namesake, Hugo Jr. To understand Hugo Black is to come to grips with his unique and resolute personality. Almost always, he was in absolute control of his physical, intellectual, social, and emotional self. As a compulsive, driven, singularly focused man, he never lost sight of the particular goal he had set for himself, and more often than not he achieved his objective. Perhaps the best way to understand Black’s temperament is to examine one important incident in his life.